Hi guys, someone encouraged me with this when i was feeling quite down. Enjoy it and remember it.
A fresh graduate went to her mother when she was facing a stressful period of her working life and this is what her mother did. 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? 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 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 a 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 can get better and change the situation around you with God's help. How do you handle adversity? When adversity strikes, ask yourself...ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE BEAN?
Wednesday, 18 July 2007
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8 comments:
i thought of this parable when i was really stressed about my work today. (: thnks for sharing! -sinyi-
You are most welcome. It spoke to me as well and I was hoping someone in need of it will get to read it too.
The Lord can really work wonders. :)
the geek in me wants to complain.
heheh.
coffee doesn't really change the water, cause you can filter out the coffee from the water. it's a suspension, not a solution. i think rock salt would be a better analogy.
and the egg will still harden even without its shell. it's not the shell that helped it harden.
Hmmm..interesting info brought up by you.I would love to debate more. The defendsive side of me jus came up.
By the way, who are you?
me loh.
ahahaha.
lazy to log in the other time.
Wah..Adi.I think i'm gonna lose the case man. The geek in you in almost unbeatable as compared to my knowledge.
But, how is coffee a suspension? It discolours the water and i don't think its reversible.
hey girl!(:
this parable reali came at the right time!
i was emoing quite bad too!
thanks for putting it on your post(:
loves.
-al
mrawh.
i think you're right.
hahahaha.
whee. this is why i shouldn't be a chemistry teacher. hahaha.
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