trbccoffeebreak

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” Psalm 133:1 (NIV)

When I was a young girl of 4, my paternal grandparents gave me a red tea set made of plastic. My dolls, as well as my friends, enjoyed that tea set as much as I did, as we often hosted tea parties for ourselves and our imaginary friends.

From that simple plastic tea set, I learned valuable lessons. I learned that sometimes we are the hosts of the event or the givers. At other times we are guests on the receiving end, and we must learn to follow the lead of the person hosting the party. I also learned responsibility, as I had to be a good steward of the tea set by keeping it in a safe place so the dog would not chew on it or my younger siblings would not lose any of the pieces. I had to keep the tea seat clean, as we did not want ants getting in my room from the juice we often served in the tea cups. Last but not least, I learned the importance of not taking criticism personally as I served my friends and catered to their needs and wants during our tea parties.

“Breaking bread together” is something that people of all nations enjoy doing. Sharing a cup of tea (or coffee, or a glass of milk or other type of beverage) while eating a full meal or an appetizer is simply a great way to spend time with friends catching up on our day-to-day lives, to encourage and edify one another.

My little red tea set got so much wear from my “social engagements” that eventually the cups had holes in them. The day I parted with that tea set was a mixture of sadness to see it go and joy from all the memories of all the wonderful tea parties it helped me host.

When was the last time you had a tea party with your girlfriends to unwind from a busy day? Don’t let your tea set get dusty on the shelf, waiting for the “right time” to call on your friends for an informal girl time or to partake in some needed encouragement. It is hard to keep track of time when life is hectic, so if necessary, pencil in some “tea party time” with your friends.

“Father, thank You for friends. Help us to never take them for granted. Amen.”

For His Glory

Luska Natali
TRBC Women’s Life