Carrots, Eggs and Coffee (11)

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Saw this story on Facebook and thought it was worth sharing here.



A grandmother took her granddaughter into the kitchen to share some wise words on life. 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 then 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 granddaughter, 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 granddaughter then asked, "What does it mean, Grandmother?"

Her grandmother 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 granddaughter. "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 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 of your life. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate to another level?

How do you handle adversity? Are you changed by your surroundings or do you bring life, flavor, to them?

ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE BEAN?"








Well I can remember a few carrot episodes in my life.

only a few, mind you.

And I refuse to be an egg

So I'll just keep on striving to be a better coffee bean

Which one are you ?

Silly me me thinks the carrots and the eggs wont want to reveal themselves

No matter was still a good story

My answer to this, beautiful lady is,

We need to have all three ingredients in our make up, to get us through life, just to finish up like good coffee.... jmo...

I agree with Cruiser, I have been the carrot when faced with watching people I loved go through cancer. Sadly I was weak and didnt face it with some, but decided when it was taking my best friend to stand by her side and fight with her. I learned so much about myself.

The egg, well some of the idiots from dating sites have taught me to harden up a tad and not to be the gullible person I once was. I needed it, waaaay too soft!

Coffee, well that is what I strive for, and I do manage it on occasions and it sure tastes good when I do.

life should be always full of different flavours and tastes, its what makes the journey interesting.

Yes nice thread Lileee...

I think we start as carrot.. but soon as we have to face adversities we turn into eggs..

I avoid the coffee bean part, I think I am more like the steam that escapes while the water is boiling..

When faced with adversity ... these days I just dissolve into thin air... I run.. not because I cannot be an egg, but I choose to not have adversity in my life...

so that is my choice..

so you are a softie in the face of adversity Eprib... I would never have guessed it..

I always thought of you as a tough mountain man..


but of course, what was I thinking... mountain men like their coffee strong..