Happy Monday.
Are you up and “raring” to go today…or not?
Let me share a story my daughter, Becky, sent me a few days ago. It has given me much food for thought.
An adult daughter, having some real struggles, confessed to her mom, “I’m weary. I want to give up.”
Without a word, her mom led her to the kitchen. She put three pots of water on the stove to boil.
When they came to a quick boil, she placed some carrots in the first pot, some eggs in the second, and in the third one, some coffee beans.
Still, nothing said.
Twenty minutes later, she took the contents of each pot and put them into bowls.
Mom asked, “What do you see?”
The answer came, “The carrots got soft, the eggs hard, and the coffee became fragrant and changed the water.”
The mom asked, “Where are you here?”
“When the heat is on, do you become weak, no strength, like carrots? Or do you get hard in your heart like the eggs?”
“Or is it possible that in hot water, you, like the coffee, release flavor and fragrance?”
Good question.
Adversity comes to all. How to handle it is our choice.
My mind goes to Joseph, who was thrown into a pit by his brothers.
From the pit to the time he became second in command in Egypt, adversity was his lot.
But wherever he found himself, his attitude changed the situation and added flavor and fragrance.
His story encourages each of us to choose the right course of action in every test. It is our choice!
Proverbs 24: 10 says, “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.”
A promise in Deuteronomy 33:25 says, “…as thy days, so shall thy strength be.”
Taking that literally means strength is there for the taking!
How are you handling your struggles? Are you a carrot, an egg, or coffee beans?
Think about it.
Monday with Beverly 
Happy birthday, Mrs. Hyles! May God’s blessings be yours in abundance!
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I love that illustration! Thank you for the reminder. God bless you!
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Remembering to pray for Becky. thank you for the lesson–well received.
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Happy Birthday Mrs. Hyles! I was at First Baptist from the mid 80’s through the 90’s. Now my family and I are missionaries in Cambodia. My son’s birthday is on Feb 14th also. He is 10 today. He has read Brother Hyles’ biography by Cindy Schaap and knows many of the stories well. He knows your name surely. Thank you for the part you played in the ministry there-that ministry made a difference in my life.
Sincerely
Walter Poole
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Thank you. This is one of my favorite “object lessons”. I sure appreciate your faithfulness and commitment to encouraging others.
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Great reminder. I love the simplicity and the illustrations used in your blog. I could almost smell the coffee while reading …
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Love your Monday messages Mrs Hyles. Love you too and your precious family. I have so many wonderful memories of each of your children and of you and Brother Hyles. Your impact upon my life and the life of my own family is immeasurable . Have a happy birthday next Saturday.
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Thank you so much for sharing this! Just what I needed!
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awesome thought for the week(I choose the to the coffee beans:)-thanks for sharing-also have a super-wonderful birthday! Love ya!!
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What a great lesson! I read once that the only disability a person has in life is a bad attitude. So true. A person with a bad attitude can make everyone they’re around miserable. Lord help me keep a good attitude. 🙂 I love you and pray that your “Valentine’s Day” birthday is extra special this year.
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This is what I needed for today! Thanks so much – Joann
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Thank you for this message. It’s exactly where I am at and what I needed.
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Good morning Mrs. Hyles and thank you for yet another Monday with Beverly. What a wonderful story with much food for thought. We all face our trials and tribulations, some great and some small. For me it is my health. I am having another MRI done this week before left hip replacement surgery. I do not like close spaces and have to take medication to be able to handle the test. I don’t know which is worse the test or the medication. I do know that I want my time during and after the test to show a sweet smell to others and not be soft like the carrots or hard like the eggs. If I face one test at a time I know I have a chance at being the good smelling coffee most of the time. Thank you for the lesson reminding me of things learned long ago, but not always used on a daily basis. Thank you too for the scriptures that reminds me that my precious Lord is always with me no matter what. God bless, take care and have a great day. Mrs. Lee Ann Gray
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I would like to totally agree with Mrs. Lee Ann Gray and even though my situation is not the same, with huge health issues, it is what the Lord has allowed in my life. I want to be a sweet smelling savour for the Lord. Praying for her also as I know the MRI routine is not my “cup of tea” either. God is so good to give us others to encourage us just at the right time. Love you. Barby P.S. My husband went to be with the Lord 12 years ago today, heaven is amazing to look forward to.
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Oh my, this is great food for thought to start my week. Thanks so much for this analogy!! God bless you on your birthday week! Much love.
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