Saturday, July 7, 2012

Brewing Shelter in Each Conversation

What I feel we ought to do at this juncture is to dash off somewhere where it's quiet and there aren't so many houses dancing the 'Blue Danube' and shove some tea into ourselves. And over the pot and muffins I shall have something very important to say to you.  ~P.G. Wodehouse 

There aren't many things more satisfying to me than sharing tea--hot or iced--with my mother.  My parents were able to spend a few days with us this week, so I created a table vignette with some of my tea dishes and and by making Esther's Tea Bag Cookies (Esther has free printable teabag tags, too).  We shared a cup of blueberry tea and English toasting bread before bed the first night my mother was here.

Tuesday was "Girl's Day Out."  The tea room I wanted to take Mom to is closed on Tuesday so I went searching for another one.  I found Rita's Backyard Tea Room.  While not as elegant as The Ruby Pear, it was a special place to visit.  Blair was the sweetest girl; she answered our menu questions and served us with quiet efficiency. With the temperature 103 degrees, we opted for iced tea (after looking around to make sure we didn't get plastic glasses).  And the mini deserts were delicious!

But the best part of the tea house was the conversation. My mother is very careful with her conversation -- although she does give me the gift of listening, because if we cannot share our joys and sorrows with our mothers, then who will keep our secrets?   

The best thing though, is that my mother is a walking collection of ideas.  I love throwing out a thought and having it come to completion through our meanderings of "what abouts" and "oh ands.."  I think my mind is more alive when Mom is around.  It feeds off of hers!

What a contrast from time that might be spent in other types of conversations -- fielding ridicule of others, airing gossip and judgmental attitudes -- that leave one exhausted instead of refreshed.Then there's the possibility of those conversations that dutifully turn to the beauty of God and His Word, but have the potential to end up arguing about the interpretation of Scripture, instead of marveling over God's goodness.

Paul told the Ephesians, Watch the way you talk...Say only what helps, each word a gift.  I'm thankful for my friends whose conversations always leave me with joy.  One recent conversation was full of grandbabies--born and unborn.  Organizing ideas, summer plans, concerns we were struggling with and more.  Those words with my friend were a gift, and I left our shared meal with a heart full of refreshment.

It makes me laugh when I think of my friend brewing shelter in our conservation.  She doesn't drink tea -- iced or hot.  Can hot chocolate brew? Or diet Coke? It must be that it's the brewed conversation that shelters.  


I'm going to gift wrap my words and offer them, like P.D. Wodehouse, over muffins and tea. And for those Northern Michigan friends, I'm not above sneaking some hot chocolate into my teapot. 

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32 comments:

Dee said...

What a wonderful way to share precious time with your mom.When I looked at the first photo I thought that was the Tea Room...your table setting is lovely. Your mom is very pretty...:)

Renee said...

I so love the idea of gift wrapping my words..beautiful post, inspirational as always. How wonderful you were able to have this special time with your mom.

Lisa notes... said...

I'd sit down with you over a cup of hot chocolate and conversation! :-) I felt homey just reading this. Thanks for sharing.

Rebecca said...

I'm inspired by your words about your mother - "careful in her conversation"..."my mind is more alive when Mom is around. It feeds off of hers!"

I would be SO pleased if someone could say that of me.

How I'd love to listen & converse with you one day, Pamela. I can just imagine our minds feeding off of each other.

joy said...

yes, when I am with family or friends, I like tot alk positive things. Negative people makes me depressed. One can make a difference between complaning and someone who really needs help. Bless you Pamela

Tal | ThePinayWanderer said...

having a wonderful conversation over a cup of tea, that's one good way to spend time with moms. :)

anyway, thanks for visiting my blog Ms. Pamela, visiting you back here. see you around... :)

Laurie Collett said...

What a lovely tribute to your Mom, and what a blessing to have a Godly mother who is a spiritual mentor also! It made me feel as if I were sharing tea and God-honoring conversation with you both.
May you have a blessed week in Him!
Laurie

Cathie said...

Loved your kind words about your mom and my Aunt Dottie. You are blessed to still have her active in your life.

Anita Johnson said...

Such a nice post...i just had my mom here for a week, so many wonderful conversations too! Sp sorry to hear about the corn crops in your area...our corn looks stiff and silvery, I can't imagine it will last much longer.

betty-NZ said...

Great post, very true words. How nice to be able to share with your Mum.

Nikki (Sarah) said...

I love the way you describe your time with your mom.....even reading about it...gives me a sense of peace and calm. Wishing you a beautiful week out there....soaking in the Son...

Cheryl Lage said...

What a lovely glimpse of your time together! Tea for a very special two! :)

Esther Asbury said...

Your tea time makes me miss my mom and my dad! A couple years ago we started this tradition when they visit my house. We have hot tea and something sweet (pumpkin bread, scones, or maybe chocolate chip cookies) as a bedtime snack. If I should forget, Makayla would be sure to remind me that we haven't had our tea! She enjoys the party atmosphere of a teapot and tea cups almost more than the "something sweet"...and that's saying something!

Unknown said...

Wow - yes - leave us exhausted instead of refreshed! amen- but there are those also who love and encourage and I'm very thankful God sends 'em my way when needed! ;) love this -

Judith said...

I loved this post. Your mom sounds so sweet and looks it too!! I just love tea, iced or not. Friends used to drop by my house for tea when my children were younger. People seem too busy now or live too far away. So much of this brought a challenge to my heart to become the sort of lady your mom is to you.

Judith said...

I loved this post. Your mom sounds so sweet and looks it too!! I just love tea, iced or not. Friends used to drop by my house for tea when my children were younger. People seem too busy now or live too far away. So much of this brought a challenge to my heart to become the sort of lady your mom is to you.

Anonymous said...

Here's to a flow of good ideas and tea too!

Courtney said...

Love this testament to time spent with your mom. I just enjoyed a lovely chat with my mom on the phone - uplifting, just as you described. Thank you for the reminder to make my conversations with everyone this day count for the right and good things God would have.

HopeUnbroken said...

"brewed conversation that shelters." a lovely word picture.
thanks for sharing this. i have a wonderful relationship with my own mom, and i so enjoy reading about others'!
have a blessed week,
steph

Mimi said...

HI PAMELA!!!
THANK YOU SO much for popping in and saying HI...I love meeting new blog friends as well as Sisters in the Lord.....I can tell you are both....a blog friend and a sister in Christ....Aren't MOM's the best...my Mom is 76 and she is so fun.....she does not live near me...so sadly I only see her about once..if I am lucky twice per year.....she always knows what to say or NOT to say....
I am learning!!!
God Bless you sweetie,
jamie

Laura said...

Oh, Pamela, this is so sweet
what a gift a mother is!

Venus Blues Hideaway said...

You are very inspirational. I can see that you treasure your mother's company very much--what a wonderful gift to her. More people need to follow your advise. Great reading your blog. I have become a follower so that I can pop in often.

Faye

Terra said...

Paul's words about watching how we talk are wise. We are reading some Ephesians in our women's study group at church this summer.
Thanks you for your kind words about my book, in your comment on my blog.

RicKaren said...

Those are the best kind of conversations! What special memories!

sharon said...

What a beautiful post, Mums are so precious. Yours so bitter sweet for me. My Mum has Alzheimer's and doesn't know me. So make use of every precious moment you have!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful photos of precious time spent with your Mom. I thoroughly enjoyed this post, Pamela.

Charlotte said...

Thank you for sharing your precious experiences with your mother. I made some raspberry tea this morning and drank it alone. How I wish I could have shared it with my mother. Even if she didn't particularly like the flavor she would have made me feel like it was the best tea she ever drank.
Blessings,
Charlotte

Anonymous said...

I absolutely love this post, right from the opening quote! Love English teas (got that from my mom, too)... and all you shared here. Sweet photo of the table setting. Was this at the tea house?

I know what you mean about sharing His word and the potential to miss marveling over His goodness. Oh for kindred hearts sharing.

Sounds like we may be neighbors of sorts...I'm in G.R... And tired of this humid heat. :) Tea, cookies, muffins...nice antidote...like your story. - Pam, Apples of Gold

betty-NZ said...

What a wonderful post. Maybe if we all consider 'gift wrapping' our words, we would be more careful with them.

Little Birdie Blessings said...

Hi Pamela, what a lovely time you and your mother must have had. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on our words. This must be a message God is trying to get to his people as I wrote about the same subject and others did as well. We're all in harmony with one another. ~ Abby

Jeanne said...

Your relationship and times of sharing with your mother remind me of the times that my mother and I had. So precious, although now gone. Times that I will always hold dear in my memory. What a lovely post!

Brenda Leyland @ Its A Beautiful Life said...

Agreed... there is nothing quite like the sheltering of good conversation over a cup of tea.