The Carrot, the Egg and the Coffee Bean...

A young woman went to her mother and told her about 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 one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took ger to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and brought each to a boil. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and in the third she placed coffee beans.

After 20 minutes she turned to ger daughter and said "now...what do you see?"

"Carrots, eggs and coffee," she replied.

Her mother explained that each of the objects had faced the same adversity - boiling water. Yet each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong and unrelenting, however...being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile, but after sitting in the boiling water...became hard.

The coffee was unique...it changed the water.

Think of this: Which are you?

The carrot that seems strong, but under pain and adversity wilts and loses its strength.

The egg, that starts with a malleable heart, but changes under heat...with a shell that looks the same, but on the inside - has your heart hardened?

Or are you like the coffee beans - that actually change the hot water - the very circumstance that brings the pain. If you are like the bean - when things are at their worst - you get better and change the situation around you.

To my husband - who may not have the best of everything, but always makes the best of everthing that flys at him.....the strongest "bean" I know.

Thanks to my mom - who always has great advice...and...on Father's Day...to my Father - who has been calling me "bean" for almost 30 years. Dad, thanks for giving me the strength and courage to change the waters, I love you.

The Bean.