Wisdom in the Tea Leaves

Life is like a cup of tea -- it's all in how you make it.

It was blueberry, and he brought it to me in a favorite cup from a tea-loving friend. The amber liquid promised comfort while his blue eyes promised love. Honey-sweetened to perfection, I breathed in the aroma and pondered life. How often we need the comfort of tea even in the ordinariness of our days; how often we miss the love in the eyes of others because we're too busy to notice.

Some say there is wisdom in our tea leaves. I would suggest that the wisdom is in pausing. When we drink tea, there's the beauty in the china, comforting warmth as our hands cradle the teacup, and fond memories woven in the ritual.

My last tea party included fresh strawberry pie and the celebration of  the new, holding the promise of a joyful future. But my tea celebrations didn't start there. There's an old black and white picture of my sister and me, sitting outside at our little red table, babushkas tied under our chin, enjoying the tea party my mother served us.

There are other memories -- a gift from my mother of Alexandra Stoddard's book, "Tea Celebrations;" choosing a teapot at The Butterfly House in Cape May while vacationing with my sister; tea at the Ruby Pear; tasting the various teas at my friend, Lorna's, Christmas tea; tea tasting at Teavana with friends, and recently, meeting new friends over a teacup.

My friend, Sue, sheltered me recently with a beautiful gift basket.  A new teapot, teas and a butterfly light -- all nestled in a basket with tulle, flowers and a beautiful scarf she crocheted for me.

Thank you, Sue!

There's wisdom in my ponderings. I've found that tea shared blesses, while solitary tea is just as important in its pausing. Like the importance of shared worship -- we need the blessings received as we worship together. Yet our time alone with God is just as important -- we need the pausing. In it we find comfort, and see the love in our Father's eyes.

Brew a cup and ponder in the ritual.