In the very back of the bottom shelf in the top cupboad, there sits an over-size brown stoneware mug. Sue found a pair of the shiny, squat mugs at a sale somewhere and bought them for me. They stirred an old memory of her Mammam and Pappap, my Mom and Pop, and the old brown mugs they used.
Pop would sit and stir -- and stir -- and stir -- until he was satisfied that evry granule of sugar was forever liquified.
Mom drank her coffee black -- very black -- and she'd have that brown cup waiting near the old coffee pot on the back of the coal stove, every-ready for her to take a swig or two of her life-sustaining coffee, whether it be hot or cold. The coffee pot itself was not the fashionable percolator of the times; no, for Mom it had to be a drip pot to make really good coffee.
A good cup of coffee, a good cup of tea, a friend to sit across the table stirring and sipping with me . . . . it's the basis for a heart-to-heart talk at the kitchen table; a reunion with a school pal in an old hangout; an attempt at reconciliation after a painful disagreement; or a getting-to-know-you visit at a local donut shop.
A well-known ministry leader included a teabag in his newsletter, inviting the recipients to "sit down and have a cup of tea with me." It was a warm invitation to read his words, think about him and the work he loved and become more involved, more "a part of the work" in caring, praying and giving.
I've sent a few tea bags since to a few special people. "Think about me when you drink this cup of tea," I write; and I can't help thinking about my friend as I sip my next cup of steaming tea.
Often I have tea at my devotional time, and think of it as having a cup of tea with the Lord.
He wrote of coming in to "sup (and sip?) with him, and he with me." He only waits to be invited for sweet fellowship, renewal, reconciliation, getting-to-know-you.
Why don't you ask Him in for a cup of tea or coffee right now? Stir and sip; listen and learn; share each others' hearts. Drink from His freely flowing Water of Life, savoring the taste of His friendship, growing in intimacy with the Giver and Sustainer of life and sweetened with His immeasurable love.
"A cup of tea, a time to share
sweet moments with my Lord.
We'll take a look in His great book;
my soul will be restored.
Then all too soon the moments pass --
I must be on my way;
but the warmth of Teatime with my Friend
will fill my cup all day."
(from "Teatime With Jesus" by Connie Faust)
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