Post by MIRIAM JACOB on Jun 25, 2008 11:44:13 GMT -5
The Lesson of the Coffee Bean
A daughter complained to her father about how hard things were for
her. "As soon as I solve one problem," she said, "another one comes
up. I'm tired of struggling."
Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen where he filled three pots
with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a
boil. In one he placed carrots, in the second, eggs, and in the last,
ground coffee beans. He let them sit and boil, without saying a word.
The daughter impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. After a
while, he went over and turned off the burners. He fished out the
carrots and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed
them a bowl. He poured the coffee into a bowl. Turning to her he
asked, "Darling, what do you see?"
"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.
He brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. 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. She smiled, as she tasted its
rich flavor.
She asked, "What does it mean, Father?"
He explained that each of them had faced the same adversity - boiling
water - but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard,
and unrelenting, but after being subjected to the boiling water, it
softened and became weak. The egg was fragile. Its thin outer shell
had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the
boiling water, its inside hardened.
The ground coffee beans were unique, however. By being in the boiling
water, they changed the water.
He asked his daughter, "When adversity knocks on your door, which are you?"
David Langerfeld
The Daily Encourager
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many
kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops
perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be
mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4 )
A daughter complained to her father about how hard things were for
her. "As soon as I solve one problem," she said, "another one comes
up. I'm tired of struggling."
Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen where he filled three pots
with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a
boil. In one he placed carrots, in the second, eggs, and in the last,
ground coffee beans. He let them sit and boil, without saying a word.
The daughter impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. After a
while, he went over and turned off the burners. He fished out the
carrots and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed
them a bowl. He poured the coffee into a bowl. Turning to her he
asked, "Darling, what do you see?"
"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.
He brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. 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. She smiled, as she tasted its
rich flavor.
She asked, "What does it mean, Father?"
He explained that each of them had faced the same adversity - boiling
water - but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard,
and unrelenting, but after being subjected to the boiling water, it
softened and became weak. The egg was fragile. Its thin outer shell
had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the
boiling water, its inside hardened.
The ground coffee beans were unique, however. By being in the boiling
water, they changed the water.
He asked his daughter, "When adversity knocks on your door, which are you?"
David Langerfeld
The Daily Encourager
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many
kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops
perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be
mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4 )