an interesting way to look at life

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AN INTERESTING WAY TO LOOK AT LIFE

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 a boil. In the

first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and 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 do you see? "

" Carrots, eggs, and coffee, " she replied. She brought her closer and

asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft.

She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the

shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her 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--but 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 to another level?

How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee

bean?

Count your blessings, not your problems.