Skip to main content

Not my cup of tea

By
I recently had a conversation with a friend in which the subject of large families came up.  When I mentioned a new arrival (baby) to an already large family, her response was - "that is not my cup of tea."  I already knew that and it was/is ok with me, but for some reason the "not my cup of tea" statement as a reaction to someone else's news bugged me.

I was thinking/praying about it and I found myself visualizing an actual ladies tea party.  Imagine if instead of each lady enjoying their own cup of tea, they spent their time arguing (or perhaps just thinking negative thoughts to themselves) about what everyone else was drinking.

"I can't believe you like decaffeinated, how unfortunate!"
"What, you take yours black?  That's disgusting."
"That caffeine is killing you, you know!"
"Tea isn't even tea if it doesn't have at least 3 tablespoons of sugar."

I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to go to that party.

Why is it then when it comes to controversial topics, we are so quick to look at what others are drinking - instead of what we are enjoying?  I am not pointing the finger here, there are times when I am tempted (and give in) to do the same thing.

It is easy to get so stuck on the "issues" that we don't see the primary issue - are each of us coming before the Lord and asking our Savior how He would like US to drink OUR OWN tea?

More and more I feel like the Lord is asking me to hold EVERYTHING in an open palm -to take my every desire/belief before Him and ask Him to reveal truth to me.  I have been asking Him to help me recognize the difference between idols and gifts (sometimes I find myself calling my idols gifts and my gifts idols) - to help me let go of anything and everything that is not of Him, and cling on to anything and everything that is of Him.

I truly think He asks each of us to hold EVERYTHING in an open palm.

So when those controversial subjects come up, you know what I'm talking about...

public school/private school/home school
stay at home/go to work
planned families/quiver full
babywise/attachment parenting
pampers/cloth diapers
the list could go on and on...

Enjoy your cup of tea, hold it out before the Lord regularly (with a truly open mind) and ask Him to reveal if He can make it better.  And when it comes to your friends, love them - enjoy them - and stop worrying about what they are drinking.  I will try to do the same :)







Labels:

Comments

  1. LindaAugust 14, 2013 at 8:52 AM

    I loved the way you explained this! It's so true! For some reason we think we need to fix others - that's the Holly Spirits job.

    Linda

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The second half of the serenity prayer

By
I think I've heard the serenity prayer a million and one times, but I just recently found out that it is never quoted in full.  The second half is wonderfully encouraging! "God grant me the serenity To accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; And wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world As it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right If I surrender to His Will; So that I may be reasonably happy in this life And supremely happy with Him Forever and ever in the next"
Post a Comment
Read more

I'm just not feeling it

By
I have noticed something interesting about myself when it comes to opening the doors of our home. I am the first to admit that fifteen minutes before our guests arrived the place was a mess. I was barking orders to my kids, scrubbing our toilet, stuffing things in drawers and searching for underwear (yup, probably dirty) that pop up in the most random places. I don't mind admitting that I don't have it all together, but I have a hard time letting anyone see it. I am the same way when it comes to my emotions. If I'm really struggling I tend to pull away. Just last night I found myself tempted to postpone a scheduled visit with a few close friends because I had no desire to admit to them that I felt like I was coming apart at the seams. Praise God, I dragged myself there and they gently began the process of gluing me back together by simply listening & loving me - despite me. And then there's "grace in the midst". I love passing along thoughts, ideas an...
5 comments
Read more

Star Wars, Frozen & Scissors

By
      I make a grunting noise as I toss another lego into "toy jail". I step away and trip over one of the kids light sabers.  Glancing over at the breakfast crumbs (we could seriously feed a family of refugees , not that I struggle with the idea of how much we waste or anything), I feel my eyes well up and think "I could use some of 'the force' about now. Trying to determine if I should pull the kids from their happy game of Zingo or tackle the breakfast fiasco on my own, I decide on the latter. What was my dear friend's quote, I ponder. Oh yeah, "a little and often". She was referring to home maintenance (along with other things). Gently, she was reminding me to stay on top of things rather than let them build into tougher jobs. "This isn't a little and often", I sarcastically mumble "this is 'a lot and always'." Seriously, if I'd simply pray every time I pick something off the floor, I might actually get a gras...
2 comments
Read more