THE STORY OF CARROTS, EGG and COFFEE BEANS…. 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 bowl, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and in the last, she placed ground coffee beans. After 20mins, she turned off the burners. She took the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She took the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she served the coffee and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what u see." 

"Carrots, eggs and coffee," she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel d carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked d daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed d hard-boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to taste 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 but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. But after being exposed 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 thru the boiling water, its insides became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, but 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?"

You Can Choose Who To Be

Are you the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do you fade and lose your strength? Or are you the egg that starts with a soft nature, but changes with the heat? Did you have a fluid spirit, but after a death, breakup, financial hardship or some other trials, have you become rigid and hard? Does your shell looks the same, but on the inside are you bitter, nasty and tough, disconnected from the spirit with a hardened heart? Or are you like the coffee bean? The bean transforms the hot water, the very situation that brings it pain. When the water gets hot, the coffee releases its fragrance and flavour (that’s what I choose to be). If you are like the coffee bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is darkest and challenges are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How are you doing life or how are you living your life right now? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? You may have started as a carrot or egg, but the beauty of life is you can intentionally choose who to be. But I hope you choose to be a coffee bean and may we all be like the coffee always.

And when this life is all over, one day, all of us…according to Romans 14:12 “So then each of us shall give an account of herself to God.” I mean all of us, single, married, widow, divorced and so on would have to stand before the judgement seat of God to give account (paraphrased) and the question that God would ask you and I: What have you done for My kingdom? There is only one perfect man. The rest of us are simply on a mission. Pastor Jon Courson puts it this way: “We think we’re schoolteachers, insurance salesmen, or stockbrokers. Nevertheless, we are not. We are undercover agents for the kingdom. God has planted us in those positions to be His witnesses.” Wow! Be challenged as you read this blog to make a difference and find strength in every situation. Find a niche for yourself to work and serve God and His people. Add value to someone today. Be kind to everyone. Engage with others to advance the kingdom! Have absolutely zero shame but develop a billion-pound pride to be the best version of yourself! Choose to make a difference no matter how small.