JOSHUA TIME 304

Coffee anyone?>> >>> > A carrot, an egg and a cup of coffee...You will 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 mot her asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter>> > smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.>> >>> > The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mom?">> >>> > 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 t he 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 actuall y 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.>> &g t;>> > 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.>> >>> > You might want to send this message to those people who mean something>> > to you (I JUST DID); to those who have touched your life in one way or>> > another; to those who make you smile when you really need it; to those>> > who make you see the brighter side of things when you are really down;>> > to those whose friendships you appreciate; to those who are so>> > meaningful in your life.>& gt; >>> > It's easier to build a child than repair an adult!>> >>> > This is so true - may we all be COFFEE.>> >