Carrots, eggs and coffee

You will probably never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

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 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 were 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?

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

Comments

  • 20 Comments sorted by Votes Date Added
  • Great mom! You made coffee but there aren't any doughnuts! Just this stupid boiled egg and a carrot.
  • ...sounds kind of like a diet lunch sack... carrot slices and boiled eggs.

    Or as the Marx Brothers would say, "...and two hard-boiled eggs"
  • If you're going to bring up the Marx Brothers you might as well bring up Abbot and Costello (who's on first) or other funny scenes (The Court Jester ...the vessel with the pestle...). Oh no! Now those lines are going to be going around in my head all evening....the chalice with the palace...
  • Ok.. Here is a link to so you can read it and not find yourself trying to remember it:

    [url]http://dagsrule.com/pestle.html[/url]

    If you are too young to remember it, enjoy!
  • ..the chalice with the palace has the brew that is true....???? or something like that.
    I couldn't recall a line from Abbot and Costello about hard boiled eggs.
    I believe my boys are getting me the complete works of the Marx brothers (dvd set) for Fathers Day. I think we already have the compelte set of Abbot and Costello. My mothers cousin was the stunt man for Lou Costello so we have always been hugh fans of their movies. I recall meeting mom's cousin as a kid and he looked just like Lou Costello. I seem to recall that he wrote a book about his time as the stunt double.
  • Good story, Nae. I will use it in my next new hire orientation.
  • Oh - and I will also poison one of my new hires.
  • [QUOTE=Dutch2;719804]..the chalice with the palace has the brew that is true....???? or something like that.
    I couldn't recall a line from Abbot and Costello about hard boiled eggs.
    [/QUOTE]

    No! They did Who's on First, a true classic.

    [url]

    Enjoy.
  • I asked my young bride at lunch about the quote and she immediately responded with both parts. "The pellet with the poison's in the vessel with the pestle; the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true!
    As a youngster I also enjoyed the Loan Ranger line:
    Dutch: "Who was that Masked Man?"
    Frank: "Beats me."
    Dutch: "Who does?"
    Frank: "The Masked Man."
    Dutch: "The Masked Man beats you?"
    Frank: "Yep. Wonder who he was?"
    Dutch: "Beats me."
    Frank: "Who does?"
    Dutch: "The Masked Man."
    Frank: "The Masked Man beats you?"
    Dutch: "Yep. Wonder who he was?"
    Frank: "Beats me."
    Dutch: "Who does?"
    ....and on and on and on and on
    This little round story was a big hit at a scout campout setting around the fire late one night.
  • [quote=Dutch2;719811]I
    As a youngster I also enjoyed the Loan Ranger line:
    [/quote]

    Dutch, Loan Ranger? You aren't a banker like Frank, are you?
  • [quote=joannie;719813]Dutch, Loan Ranger? You aren't a banker like Frank, are you?[/quote]

    I always wished we could call our Loan Officers "Loan Arrangers", I thought that would liven up boring old job titles by being "punny".

    Of course, I want my title on my business card listed as "Goddess of HR" but they won't let me do that either! :D
  • On my last resume (the one that got me this gig) I put my previous job title as CMO - Chief Morale Officer. It caught their attention.
  • [quote=ACU Frank;719815]On my last resume (the one that got me this gig) I put my previous job title as CMO - Chief Morale Officer. It caught their attention.[/quote]

    Well, obviously, being pantsless, you couldn't be the Chief Morals Officer, could you?
  • "Those who can't do, teach."
  • I must fess up... I do work for a Bank. My dad was in banking for 20+ years and at one time all of the lenders had coffee cups with the picture of a masked face and the words The Loan Arrangers below.
  • [quote=Dutch2;719821]I must fess up... I do work for a Bank. My dad was in banking for 20+ years and at one time all of the lenders had coffee cups with the picture of a masked face and the words The Loan Arrangers below.[/quote]

    I love it....I'll have to have some of those made up for our lenders!
  • Years ago (early-to-mid '80s, I guess) there was a car dealership in Kansas City that actually ran late-night TV commericals touting their ability to finance a car for anyone, regardless of credit. They had a guy who galloped onto the lot at the close of every commercial dressed as The Loan Arranger. Some of the cheesiest commercials ever made!
  • [quote=ACU Frank;719828]Years ago (early-to-mid '80s, I guess) there was a car dealership in Kansas City that actually ran late-night TV commericals touting their ability to finance a car for anyone, regardless of credit. They had a guy who galloped onto the lot at the close of every commercial dressed as The Loan Arranger. Some of the cheesiest commercials ever made![/quote]

    Cheesy they may have been but at least somewhat effective since here it is 25-30 years later and you still remember them.

    Sharon
  • [QUOTE=Sharon McKnight SPHR;719837]Cheesy they may have been but at least somewhat effective since here it is 25-30 years later and you still remember them.

    Sharon[/QUOTE]


    I wonder. I still remember car dealership commercials I heard in the 70's and early 80's. I don't think it was that Cal Worthington's commercials were so naturally memorable (he threatened to do anything to make a deal and was often seen with wild animals he would fight to get your business). I think it was because you couldn't turn the tv on without having one of his commercials blast at you. I suspect that several tv stations had trouble staying on the air once he retired and sold his dealerships. I can't imagine them being able to make up the revenue enough to stay open. O:)
  • I just recommended this forum to someone and wanted to make sure it was still 'family friendly' - i.e. Frank is still pantsless; Paul is still, well Paul; JoAnnie is still on her tryke and Nae is still sweet.

    Saw your post Nae and it made me chuckle. Growing up in SoCal I remember the old Cal Worthington commercials. "If you're looking for a better set of wheels, I will stand upon my head to beat all deals. I will stand upon my head til my ears are turning red. Go see Cal, go see Cal, go see Cal". Wow. Been a loooong time. And I can't forget his pet, 'Spot'.

    Bye again, lol.
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