A young woman went to her mother and told her about life and how things were so hard
for her. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It didn’t seem like it was making any difference.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a
high fire. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed
ground coffee beans.
After some time, the mother asked her daughter to feel the carrots. She did and noted that
they were soft. The mother then asked her 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 some of the water
the coffee beans were in. She smiled as she tasted its rich flavor.
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling
water. But, each had reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting.
However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it became soft and weak. The egg had been
fragile. It’s thin outer shell had protected the liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling
water, it’s inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they
were in the boiling water, they had actually changed the water!
The mother explained that some people are like the carrot that seems strong, but with
pain and adversity wilt and lose strength. Others are like the egg that starts out with a malleable
heart, but with heat their heart changes into one that is hardened and stiff. But, a few people are
like the coffee beans that actually change the situation around them by their outlook, attitude,
and influence. Which one are you?

~ Author Unknown Central church of Christ, Bastrop, LA