A Carrot, An Egg, and A Cup of Coffee....You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again

[sweetwillow58]

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 insides 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?

[sweetwillow58]

To be absolutely honest, right now I think I'm an egg. Looks I got some work to do. One problem tho....coffee gives me a stomach ache. Could I be a cocoa bean instead?

[stuagu]

lovely illustration and i think im a bit too much like a carrot for my liking.

[ReadYourBible]

Heh, I thought she was going to make a cake or something at the beginning. (No word of a lie LOL!!!)

At any rate, this is a very beautiful and poignant illustration and thanks so much for posting it. I got goosebumpies!

I've been all three at different stages of my life, but I have always been more like the coffee bean. There have been times I've played the egg, but the grater of life shreds you, and Jehovah uses what's left over to create something worthwhile (think egg salad sandwich, mmmmn miracle whip, celery, paprika or pepper) lol.

[ava]

I use to be the egg, but the last few years I have been working on that, and I am progressing towards the coffee.

[Spydar]

I am the coffee bean, in my life when ever I am in the heat of things things always change for the better and I learn and move on.

Thanks very much for this post.

[Joey]

I'm not the egg,not quite the carrot,but can't claim to be a strong cup of coffee.

Maybe I'm .

[destiny]

I'm not the egg,not quite the carrot,but can't claim to be a strong cup of coffee.

Maybe I'm .

im with you nancy-working on becoming the coffee.....maybe im decaff...

[sweetwillow58]

I like your thinking, Sharon. I LOVE egg salad! Jehovah can use us no matter what shape we are or aren't in

[Joey]

I'm not the egg,not quite the carrot,but can't claim to be a strong cup of coffee.

Maybe I'm .

im with you nancy-working on becoming the coffee.....maybe im decaff...

Maybe we are both 1/2 caf.

Well these sort of illustration are definately thought provoking,makes you examine yourself.

[Bro.David Drake DeLaurento]

I dont know what I am, still cooking...

[Joey]

I dont know what I am, still cooking...

You are definately not an egg or a carrot.

[ReadYourBible]

I dont know what I am, still cooking...

BUAHAHAHAH. This is a GREAT answer!

[ReadYourBible]

I like your thinking, Sharon. I LOVE egg salad! Jehovah can use us no matter what shape we are or aren't in

He sure does!

[Daniela]

A very nice illustration! May I use it?

And...I`d like to be a strong Italian espresso!

I said I`d like... I`m still working on it...

[rocket]

I don't know yet. I'm still trying to figure out Vernalee's Boiling Water Recipe.

http://www.jwtalk.net/forum/read.php?48,56034

[ReadYourBible]

I don't know yet. I'm still trying to figure out Vernalee's Boiling Water Recipe.

http://www.jwtalk.net/forum/read.php?48,56034

This is just hilarious. Thanks for pointing it out, I hadn't had the opportunity to read it. *Runs off to boil exactly 48 cups of water* *skips back, because I forgot the laptop with the recipe....*