A Time For Tea

Ephesians 4:2a -- "Be completely humble and gentle;"

Many things come to mind when I think of the Africa of my childhood. The bush-babies running rampant on our roof during the night, the drums set to a distant rhythm as people beat out the local news from village to village, the dry red sand in which I used to play tirelessly, and of course, the Baboon that stared at my mother and I through the glass of the large bay window in our living room.   AND - it was in Africa when I was first introduced to the concept of afternoon tea.

A hold-over from British influence, it made perfect sense to pause during the hottest hours of the day - when the sun would blaze from strait over head and the thermometer could tip at a sweltering 42.5 degrees Celsius [108.5 degrees Fahrenheit]. Our mother would announce the time for tea, and it was from her that I learned the importance of taking a break.

Along with a much needed respite from the heat, however, there was something wonderful in the gentle humble service with which Mom would set up the table and pour the hot brew into our cups. The delicate clink of teacups on saucers and mouths full of peanut-butter sandwiches was something I'll always remember. Tea time introduced to me a wonderful formality and graceful art to the need for an afternoon snack. For Mom, it interrupted the often hyper play of her two daughters when it was too hot for them to burn off energy outside.

For me? I saw a graceful and gentle humility.

Mom would set the table, she would lay out napkins and pretty plates. In her heart was a desire to share a special moment between the three of us. She took great care in every detail and would not call to my sister and I until everything was set just right. It was a precious moment that I will carry with me always.

Thinking back on tea time with my mother I can't help but be reminded of the graceful humility Jesus gave when he chose to wash the feet of his disciples. It was more than just an act of making feet clean. It was a precious moment - an intimacy shared with people about whom Jesus cared a great deal. A respite from activity, yes - but so much more - was the love expressed in a very humble action. Greater than the words "I love you" kneeling at the foot of another human being showed respect. It showed deference. It showed HUMILITY.

In Ephesians 4:2 we are reminded how very important it is to express gentle humility. Today I was reminded of how very important it was receive tea during a hot African afternoon. Our mother was expressing her love for my sister and I in a very precious way.

In our very busy lives - perhaps even greater than the need to stop and smell the roses is the need for us to stop and take time out to serve. Maybe we need to stop and tike time for tea.