I spent time recently with an elderly woman, the grandmother of a dear friend.  Being with her, at her side, started me thinking about how much I miss my grandparents.

 

My one Grandfather passed away when I was very young and I do not remember much about him other than holding his hand and going for a walk.

 

My other Grandpa used to tell me stories of his life. I tell you, he could remember stories of when he was 8 as if they were yesterday. He died at age 95.

 

Grandma was always ready in the kitchen, to teach her recipes and just squish you with her hugs. Jars were always filled with candy. And she used to buy me long pretty night gowns when I was little. At dusk, I'd go out by the lake and catch fireflies. She made me feel like a princess.

 

My Oma was a wise woman. While she taught me many of our traditional recipes, she was the one who combined wisdom into her stories. I really learned a lot from her.

 

The time spent with my grandparents was indeed a gift. Each one offered so much to my life. I am grateful to have had this time with them and to learn all the things they spent their time teaching me.These days, I feel like many children are missing out on these wisdoms and stories and time in the kitchen.

 

I came across this story several times in other posts and it resonated with me as a timeless wisdom that could be learned...shared. I'm not sure where the original story came from, but I hope you too can gain some wisdom from it and then maybe one day share it.

 

A young woman went to her grandmother 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 that as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her grandmother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and 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 then pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she poured the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her granddaughter, she asked, “Tell me, what do you see?”“Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” she replied.She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The granddaughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.

The granddaughter then asked, “What does it mean, Grandmother?”Her grandmother 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. 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 granddaughter.

“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 a 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 of your life. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate to another level?