For most years of my life, my mother would wake me each morning by bringing me hot tea in bed. The spoons and floral teacups would rattle as she rolled a wooden tea trolley down our concrete hallway, the house dark and still.
I can recall the memory easily and happily; the start of a new day as a child loved.
When we moved to a home with all the bedrooms on the second floor, mom rose early to carefully climb the stairs with her tea-tray. She delivered sweet, milky tea to four sons and a teenage daughter in a tender ritual of love we all had come to know so well.
St. Jude’s five children are all out of the house (why did we ever leave?) but our lucky father still benefits from this duty of delight each morning. When we are all fortunate enough to be together as a family, it is always around tea. Tea means that love is about to be poured out.
How do you greet your loved ones each morning? Do you think it matters?
Tea may not be your language of love, but what might be?
What morning memory will your children miss when they are no longer under your roof?
It doesn’t have to be much.
Last week my seventeen-year old son hugged me tight in the kitchen: ”Mom, I love that you seem so happy to see me in the morning, even when you’re mad at me. I will never forget that about you.”
Because, friends, it’s not really about the tea, is it?
Grace to you and yours as you cherish each new morning, and each precious soul under your roof.
Kim
Kim . . . I love this post!!
So often I think of the summer I spent at your house and the tea. I have even made it for friends and family and relay this very story of how your mom would bring the tea upstairs in the morning to help us welcome a new day!
Blessings to you and your mom today!!
Such a fun summer with such a fun friend!
And just where did we all learn to drink milky tea- why Rhodesia/Zims of course. It is still my most favourite drink in the morning, wish I could look out the window some days and see Troutbeck Inn way down below the hill and Mount INyangani in the distance. We were so blessed to have such a heritage.
Teas on the farms and lunches on the farms were some of my bestest memories from overseas. I now offer Rooibos/Red Bush Tea to many visitors who visit our humble abode.
love and hugs
Julie
p.s do you guys have cows and milk them too- drink raw milk?
Rooibus is my favorite, Julie, just behind Tanganda:) No cows, yet, Julie…one day!
No tea in the morning just the wonderful words and snaps from your Giving Breath to help me start my day. I am blessed with you…..and grateful for every word ……Auntie e
It is a wonderful morning here – being greeted by these words.
Oh I remember those days:) saw a wooden tea trolley at an auction the other day & Sean & I were reminiscing about tea at the farm with the folks. Dad has still got one of those big tea cups that your mum is using in the pic with the twins:)