Are you a Carrot, an Egg or Coffee Bean?
- Author unknown

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 one problem was solved a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water. In the first pot, 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 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 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 got soft. She then asked her to take the egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to smell and sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she smelled and tasted the rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What's the point, Mother?"

Her mother 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 daughter. "When trials and adversity knock on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or 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 passive heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, 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 become 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? Like the CARROT, the EGG, OR the COFFEE BEAN?

I just read this story to Sarah. I hope it will inspire her. Recently, I have noticed that she tends to give up when her work gets difficult and tedious. She will complain and tell me that she does not want to learn anymore. After reading the story, I discussed it with her and asked which she prefers to be. She said the coffee bean. I then put the story into the current context of her learning and explained to her the choices she has whenever she meets with difficulties. I hope to teach her the virtue of perseverance and not giving up in the face of difficulty. I see in her now the tendency to choose the easy route and giving up when things get tough. Of course, this is a natural human tendency, but I hope with constant reinforcement, I can instil the never-give-up attitude in her. Or at the very least, to try her best in whatever she does. I don't really expect her to have to be like the coffee bean After all, I can't say so for myself. If she can have the strength and fortitude of the bean, very good. If not, at least I hope she does not give up so easily.