I do not know who wrote this story but it has been one of my favorites. Perhaps you’ve heard it before, but like any good parable it bears repeating. I hope you will enjoy it.

A young woman went to her grandmother and told her about her life and how things were so hard. She was tired of fighting and struggling. Life all seemed so useless; as soon as one problem was solved a new one arose.

Her grandmother took her to the kitchen, filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. When the pots came to boil she placed carrots in the first, eggs in the second, and ground coffee bean in the last. After 20 minutes she turned off the burners. She strained the carrots out and placed them in a bowl, then pulled the eggs out and placed them in a separate bowl and ladled the coffee out and placed it in its own bowl.

Her grandmother 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 bean was unique, however. After it was in the boiling water, it 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?

Which are you? Are you the carrot that seems strong but with pain and adversity, do you wilt and lose your strength? Are you the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did you have a fluid spirit but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have you become hardened and stiff? Does your shell look the same, but on the inside are you bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart? Or are you like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water – the very circumstance that brings the adversity, the pain, the hardship – into something quite wonderful. When the water gets hot, it releases its fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean when things are at their worst you get better and change the situation around you for the better.

Can you imagine if we were all like coffee beans? We could change the world exponentially. It’s your life, don’t waste it by thinking you’re living it for yourself.

May each us have wisdom enough to know we are loved, trials enough to make us strong, heartache enough to keep us humble, and boundless gratitude to keep us happy.

Upcoming events:

Monday, the Versailles Area Chamber of Commerce holds its their annual banquet, which will include the presentation of Citizen of the Year to James Youngker and the People-Pride-Progress Award to the Versailles Diamond Club. Tickets are $20 and may be purchased by contacting Fred Poeppelman at 526-9869 or [email protected].

Thursday there is an open to the public bid euchre tournament downstairs at the Versailles Vets Club beginning at 7 p.m.

Pre-sale tickets are available for the Wine and Canvas fundraiser to be held Jan. 29, 6 p.m. at the Versailles Christian Church. For more information or for tickets, contact Amy Denlinger at 526-4769 or [email protected].

Happy birthday to Samuel Busse (2), Pierce and Oliver Carson (2), Kitty Zumbrink, Addie Knapke, Katey Wendel, Anna Cruz, Jackie Bruns, Brittany Kemper, Michelle Cohee, Brenda Goubeaux, Paige Partin, Tena Black, Ryan Yakos, Jean Watercutter, Katie Mescher, Sharon Groff, Chad Monnin, Denise Heitkamp, Amanda Swallow, Joyce Rider, Joe Jessup, Shelley Cohee, Bob Epperly, Diann Kopilec, Carolyn Wilcox, Kelli Henry, Diane Delaplane, Candi Etter, Deb Holthaus, Rhonda Elifritz-Rix, Tyler Ward, Doris Gessler, Vickie Mestemaker, Monica Francis, Ava Garlinger, Judson Delancey, Bobby Collins, Alex Kelch, Cindy Lewis, Jan Luft, Bill Beasley, Amanda Patterson, Marge Prakel, Thatcher Collins, Tom Buxton, and Paul Trittschuh. Happy anniversary wishes to Sonja and Barney Francis (25), Cindy and Dave Shadoan (33), Pearl and Steve Bucklew (46), and Nancy and Dan Streib (53). Happy retirement wishes to Jean Buxton and Bonnie Barga.

Healing prayers and get well wishes for Cyril Frantz (home again), Jim Frantz, Norma Magoto, Marvin Godwin, Jennifer Platfoot, Betty Kremer, Dave Francis, Kevin Bohman, Ann Paulus Pedersen, James Magoto, Harry Gorrell, Chick Conley (convalescing), Jan Turner, Dan Bertke, Dan Monnin, Betty Dotson, Kathy Magoto, Kathy Miller, Betty Hess, Scottie Barga, Bob Longenecker, Josh Paulus, John Davis, Beverly Norton, Carl Drees, Dave Magoto, Alan Barga, Bob Homan, Kelly Bruns, Steven Youngker, Iris Nickol, Eileen Rahm, Robert Longenecker, Rita Wuebker, Merilyn Borchers, Yvonne Ridenour, Cyril Voisard, Wayne Pittsenbarger, Lois and James Youngker, Isabella Yakos, Brian Voisard, Barb and Jon Agne, Samantha Smith, Michelle Ullom and all those dealing with cancer or any one of life’s many challenges, as well the hospitalized or home-bound in need of our prayers but not mentioned by name. Thanks to all the caregivers, kindhearted, volunteers and prayer warriors who come to the aid of others.

Sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Donna Kuykendall (70), also remembering the lives of Philip Ridenour, Eva Hollingsworth, Lawrence Simons, Ron Dwenger, Bill Leach, Ernie Hemmelgarn, Rita Gaier, Ron Meier, Esther Hopkins, Donna Petitjean, Rhomane and Rosemary Bulcher, Alfred Eilerman, Elvin Hollinger, Doc Sanders, Dan Waymire, Elfrieda Borchers, Mary Lou Monnin, Uncle Bob Magoto, Jean Leeper, Darrell Francis and who are in our hearts but not mentioned by name as the anniversary of their passing nears.

“Don’t get bitter, get better.” ~Unknown

“The happiest of people don’t have everything; they just make the most of everything they have.” ~Unknown

“Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.” ~John Wooden