A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up, she was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved and a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen, she filled three pots with water and placed them on the stove, soon the pots came to a boil.
In the first she placed carrots, in the second eggs, and the third, coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word.
In about 20 minutes she turned off the burners. She fished out the carrots and placed in a bowl. She pulled out the eggs and placed in a bowl. Then she ladled out the coffee and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked , "tell me what you see."
"carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted they were soft. The mother then asked her to break the egg. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to take a sip of the coffee.
The daughter smiled as she tasted it's rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"
Her mother explained that each of these objects hadfaced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. It's thin outer shell had protected it's liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, it's inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they changed the water.
"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "when adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or coffee bean?"
Am I the carrot that seems strong but with pained adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?
Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, breakup, financial hardship, or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?
Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings pain. When the water gets hot it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are likethe bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are the greatest do elevate yourself to another leve? Or do you become soft and hard hearted?
Which one are you?
