A young woman went to her mother and was talking about how things were so hard for her. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose. She did not know how she was going to make it and felt like giving up.
Her mother went into the kitchen, 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. Taking these bowls out to her daughter, the mother 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 finally asked, ‘What is this supposed to mean?’ Her mother replied:
Each of these objects had faced the exact same adversity: boiling water. However, each of these objects had reacted differently.
The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, the carrot softened and became weak.
The egg had once been fragile; its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.
The coffee bean, however, was especially unique. When placed in the boiling water, the coffee bean had changed the water.
No further explanation needed!!!
So which are you? When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?
