FOODFORTHOUGHT

THE LESSON OF THE COFFEE BEAN

Author Unknown

October 31, 2012

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?"

-- Author Unknown

SCRIPTURE:
John 16:33
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this
world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Romans 5:3-5
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that
suffering produces perseverance; [4] perseverance, character; and character,
hope. [5] And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his
love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Romans 8:31-39
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be
against us? [32] He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us
all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
[33] Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God
who justifies. [34] Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more
than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also
interceding for us. [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or
sword? [36] As it is written:

"For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be
slaughtered."

[37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who
loved us. [38] For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither
angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, [39]
neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to
separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 12:21
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
[3] because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
[4] Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and
complete, not lacking anything.

1 Peter 4:1
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the
same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.