Friday, October 24, 2008

I love me some coffee-I want to be Coffee

A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee....You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again. 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, a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil.. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out 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 that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?' Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced 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. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had 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 a coffee bean? Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and 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, a breakup, a 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 the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor.. If you are like the 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 their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Photobucket

8 comments:

Valarie Lea said...

Never heard of it put that way. I want to be coffee also. :)

Debbie said...

Wow - I'm trading my Friday morning coke for some nice warm coffee!!

Debbie said...

You need to share those special parts of your book with us! YOU are the best!

Maree said...

I used to fall apart when really bad things happened...my husband is the strong one, bless his heart. So I know the carrot well!

Over the years as I learned to trust God...let go and let God...he's turning me into coffee.

I've KNOWN some of those "eggs" in my life! ;-)

Great story, thanks for sharing it!

Blessings!

Brandi said...

I love that post... It was a blessing. I want to inspire to be the coffee....

Putz said...

i try not to be the coffee bean and change the water...i do not want to change anything but myself lately and ray and lucy and rhymes got into a fight on my blog on just the subject of your blog..i am a carrot, i change myself with god's help, but never another person.....read all about it lorie

Brandi said...

That would be ..... HOSPICE!

Love my 2 BoYs! said...

What an awesome way to put it all into perspective, definitely a blessing! Thanks!