Potatoes, Eggs and Coffee Beans
(Author Unknown)
Once upon a time a daughter complained to her father that her
life was miserable and that she didn't know how she was going to make
it. She was tired of fighting and struggling all the time. It seemed
just as one problem was solved, another one soon followed.
Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three
pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Once the three pots
began to boil, he placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in the second pot,
and ground coffee beans in the third pot. He then let them sit and
boil, without saying a word to his daughter. The daughter, moaned and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing.
After twenty minutes he turned off the burners. He took the
potatoes out of the pot and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out
and placed them a bowl. He then ladled the coffee out and placed it
in a cup.
Turning to her he asked. "Daughter, what do you see?"
"Potatoes, eggs, and coffee," she hastily replied.
"Look closer", he said, "and touch the
potatoes." She did and noted that they were soft.
He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off
the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.
Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Its rich aroma brought
a smile to her face.
"Father, what does this mean?" she asked.
He then explained that the potatoes, the eggs and coffee beans
had each faced the same adversity -- the boiling water. However,
each one reacted differently.
The potato went in strong, hard, and unrelenting, but in boiling
water, it became soft and weak.
The egg was fragile, with the thin outer shell protecting its
liquid interior until it was put in the boiling water. Then the inside
of the egg became hard.
However, the ground coffee beans were unique. After they were
exposed to the boiling water, they changed the water and created
something new.
"Which are you," he asked his daughter. "When
adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a potato, an egg, or a
coffee bean?"
In life, things happen around us, things happen to us, but the
only thing that truly matters is what happens within us. Which one
are you?
(Matthew 5:1-16 NIV) "Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a
mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he
began to teach them, saying: 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for
they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of
God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and
falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for
in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness,
how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything,
except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the
world.
A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a
lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it
gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light
shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your
Father in heaven.'"
"But now, O LORD,
You are our Father;
We are the clay,
and You our potter;
And all we are the work of Your hand."
(Isaiah 64:8 NKJV)
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