I have never met a young person so full of life and confidence like Denise. She moved here from Manila to study film at Bigfoot in Mactan. She is an amazingly bubbly and friendly girl, with an innate ability to connect with just about anyone. Aside from School, she works two jobs; one as a video editor and another as Retail Team Leader at Eyebar.
Life can throw us a curve ball every now and then. I believe, God has a unique way of tapping us behind our back to ask us if we remember him.
An unfortunate incident happened, Denise was mugged and shot when she refused to hand over her bag. She lies recovering at the hospital.
A good friend Bobby emailed me a story that someone had forwarded to him. I want to share this story and its message most especially with Denise. I unfortunately do not know the author and would like him or her to know, that the credit for writing this is totally his or hers.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 mother asked the daughter to sip 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. 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 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?
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 actually 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. ”
Life is never perfect. We cannot control many of the circumstances or situations that we find ourselves in. We can only control how we react to it. Be Coffee. Get well Denise. We are all praying for you.Let’s follow the examples of these ordinary individuals as they strive to make a difference. Each week, lets all get together and share knowledge, stories, experiences, information, all for the sole purpose of getting One Step Up.
For comments, suggestions or stories that you want to share, email me at stirspecialist@gmail.com , or visit www.stirspecialist.blogspot.com
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