Materials needed:
* 1 see-through jar with lid
* 2-4 cups beans or small beads
* 1 ping-pong ball or large walnut (unopened)

Place the ping-pong ball or walnut in the empty jar. Cover with beans or beads at least 3 inches deep. Close the jar and shake vigorously. Watch the ball or walnut make its way to the top.

You can talk about Joseph, the son of Jacob, and how he adapted to change and rose to the top in every situation he was faced with.

Joseph had it made in Jacob's home. He was the favored son, his father had shown that by making him a special coat. He was entrusted to go check on his ten older brothers.   Then came the first change (turn the bottle over again and start shaking it).

His brothers were not happy to see him, instead they were going to kill him, but decided to sell him as a slave instead. The slave traders took Joseph to Egypt and sold him to the captain of the guard, Potiphar. Because of his faithfulness, within a few years Joseph was in charge of all of Potiphar's servants. He had it made...(the ball or walnut should be at the top)

Until...(turn the bottle over again and start shaking it) Potiphar's wife tried to seduce Joseph. He ran from that bad situation. She accused him of attacking her to get even and Joseph was sent to prison. Even in prison Joseph made the best of the situation and was trusted completely by the prison keeper. Finally, after many years, he was invited to interpret Pharoah's dream and became a ruler in Egypt, (the ball or walnut should be at the top) second only to Pharoah himself.

Like Joseph, we cannot always control our circumstances. We can control how we respond to our circumstances. Like Joseph, we should choose to be the best we can and make the best of every situation, no matter how bad it may seem.

You could give each young woman a ping-pong ball or walnut with this saying attached:   "Rise to the occasion, no matter your situation."

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