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Miracle of Life - How We Came To Be Believe Achieve Hugo and Roxanne

April 1, 2009

Are You a Carrot, an Egg, or a Coffee Bean?

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as soon as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She 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.

Turning to her daughter, she 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 we re 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 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. 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 daughter.

'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 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 get better and change the situation around you.

When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity?

Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?


By Mary Sullivan




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12 comments:

  1. I have read before!
    Very strong message!
    Enjoy your month!

    ReplyDelete
  2. A cup of coffee .. after these three months and as I've always been .... especially in the last 4 years or so ..

    Mary Sullivan tells a very good story .. it is so clear and descriptive ..

    Thanks for sharing Roxanne and Hugo
    Hilary Melton-Butcher
    Positive Letters

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Hugo & Roxanne

    This is such a great inspirational story. Thank you for sharing this great message. Coffee bean was also the smallest of the 3.
    Thank you,
    Giovanna Garcia
    Imperfect Action is better than No Action

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Hugo and Roxanne,
    It’s always worth reading this story again. Truly inspiring.
    Thank you. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. My shell looks the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

    Great story it helps us to think with in ourselves.

    I hope all is well!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Καλλιόπη,

    You'll have to tell me what your name translates to in English. It looks so beautiful!

    Who thought living like a coffee bean made life so great! Wishing you a wonderful month, too.

    Thank you so much for your support and comments.

    Many Blessings....
    Roxanne and Hugo ~ Believe Achieve

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Hilary!

    I knew you were a Coffee Bean! You're always finding the positive in every situation.

    Thank you so much for your support and comments.

    Many Blessings....
    Roxanne and Hugo ~ Believe Achieve

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Giovanna,

    I know you're a Coffee Bean, as well!

    Your comment about the coffee bean also being the smallest of the three reminded me of the saying, "Good things come in small packages" and sometimes the mightiest are the little things in life.

    Thank you so much for your support and adding value to our posts.

    Many Blessings....
    Roxanne and Hugo ~ Believe Achieve

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Arswino,

    This story has such a strong message that it's definitely worth reading over and over again.
    We're glad you got a chance to read it here again. :-)

    Thank you so much for your comments. It's always very appreciated.

    Many Blessings....
    Roxanne and Hugo ~ Believe Achieve

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Joanne,

    This story does make us really look inside ourselves. Like the story explains, we all face the same adversity, yet react so differently. If we were all like coffee beans, we'd all live happier and more positive lives. It's about changing the situation for the better and seeing the hidden blessings and the positives in all obstacles.

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Look forward to seeing you again soon.

    Many Blessings....
    Roxanne and Hugo ~ Believe Achieve

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great reflective story! Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi, This is very good blog post about coffee bean through a lovely story.I liked it very much

    ReplyDelete

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