A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life, and how things were so hard for her, given all that she is now going through. The young woman also told her mother that she didn’t know how she was going to make it; and that she wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed that as one problem was solved, another appeared.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water. In the first pot she placed a carrot, in the second she placed an egg, and in the last pot she placed ground coffee beans. The mother let the items sit and boil without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrot out and placed it in a bowl. She then took the egg out and placed it on a plate. Finally, she ladled some of the coffee into a cup. Turning to her daughter, she asked, “Tell me what you see?”
I see a carrot, an egg, and some brewed coffee,” the daughter replied. The mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrot. She did and noted that it was soft. She then asked her daughter to take the egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, the daughter observed the egg was hard-boiled. Finally, the mother asked her daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma.
The daughter then asked, “What’s the point mother?” Her mother explained that each of these items had faced the same adversity—boiling water—but each reacted differently. The carrots 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 shells had protected its liquid interior, but, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The grounded coffee beans were unique however, after they were in the boiling water they had changed the water into something desired.
“Which are you?” the mother asked the daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or coffee beans?”
Are you the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do you wilt and become soft and lose your strength? Are you the egg that starts with a sensitive heart, but changes with the heat? Do you have a fluid spirit, but after death, a breakup, a divorce, a financial hardship or some other trail, have you become hardened and stiff? Does your shell look the same, but on the inside are you bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?
Or are you like the coffee beans? The beans actually change the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and favor. If you are like the beans, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. How do you handle adversity? Coffee anyone? -Anonymous
Thoughts to Ponder: When a builder is confused he refers back to the blueprint and checks with the architect. God is the architect and builder of all Christians. He never gets confused about what He’s planned and how it’s built. When He builds something, it’s built for maximum efficiency and optimal performance. Trust the real architect and builder of your life.
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1.
