Oolong Tea

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how thingswere so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it andwanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed asone problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water andplaced each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first sheplaced carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placedOolong tea. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrotsout and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in abowl.

Then she ladled the Oolong out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to herdaughter, she asked, 'Tell me what you see.'

'Carrots, eggs, and Oolong tea,' she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did andnoted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an eggand break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hardboiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the Oolong. The daughtersmiled as she tasted its rich aroma The daughter then asked, 'What does itmean, mother?'

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the sameadversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went instrong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boilingwater, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outershell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through theboiling water, its inside became hardened. The Oolong tea was unique,however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the watercolor and taste.

'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on yourdoor, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a Oolong tea?

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with painand 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 financialhardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does myshell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiffspirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the Oolong tea? The tea actually changes the hot water, thevery circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releasesthe fragrance and flavor. If you are like the tea, when things are at theirworst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour isthe darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself toanother level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or aOolong tea?

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make youstrong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; theyjust make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightestfuture will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward inlife until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.

Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyonearound you is crying.

Share this to those people who mean something to you; to those who have touched your life in one way or another; to those who make you smile when you really need it; to those who make you see the brighter side of things when you are really down; to those whose friendship you appreciate; to those who are so meaningful in your life.

May we all be OOLONG TEA !!!!!!!!!

Nothing is impossible, if your heart is willing

When someone tells you that you can't do something.....

Look around....
Consider all options...

Then GO for it!

Use all the things God gave you

Be creative!
In the end, you will succeed and prove them wrong!

Always remember

Nothing is impossible, if your heart is willing