COFFEE

I do believe one of the best things God placed in my life is coffee!  I tell people that I will know I have died and gone to heaven when I hear, “Good morning Mary.  Here is your coffee.” ..... and I do not have to make a mad dash to the bathroom.

Coffee is my morning jumper cable.  There are morning people and there are night people.  I am an in-between people.  I do not hop out of bed before daylight ready to face the day.  I do not stay up till 2 or 3 AM on purpose.  But, I am, for sure, a hand-me-a-cup-of-coffee person.  Prior to coffee, my eyes open half way.  My ears are allergic to sound.  My mouth ... my mouth, a shock to many people, cannot make conversation.  My brain is in place waiting for me to hit the start button..aka coffee.

One sip and — just like that — there is life on the planet. 

I know people who are animated the minute their eyes open.  I know people who can function at 5:30 AM.   I know people who can get up and do their Bible reading.  How?  That, I do not know. 

Anyway, writing this made we think about other things God placed in my life.  Not the big things — mountains, the ocean, a rose — but the surprises that came with the big things.

I carried a child, in my womb, and thought that was a wonder, a miracle.  I felt joy and I felt humble and blessed.  A baby.  A gift.  Changing diapers and trying to rest.  And then the surprise.  That baby touched my cheek.  How could a touch ... there are no words.

As you all know, I love to travel.  I consider traveling a very big thing.  Yes, we take interstates, buy my real joy comes on back roads.  On streets through small towns.  I do not take our travels lightly.  They have been a blessing and have allowed us to see such wonders.  But there they sat.  In a small town, on a front step.  A daddy and daughter waiting on the school bus.  You could tell she was headed to school.  The backpack was there, full of books and lessons and the opportunity of learning.  The surprise was the absolute attention the father was giving his daughter.  There was no phone in his hand.  There was no looking around or checking his watch.  She had his undivided attention.  The love he was giving her ... there are no words.

Travel is a big thing, but when you combine travel with loved ones, it becomes a really, really big thing. Travel has included time spent on mother/daughter trips and mother/son cruises.  And trips to Florida with our daughter’s family.  I love that they take grandma along (Grandpa is usually in the field when we did the trips to Florida.) and on one trip we flew.  Tim, the youngest of four boys and 5 at the time, would have wanted to be with his brothers or walking with his dad, but that would have meant his mother would never know where Tim was.  It would not have worked to tell him to stay with grandma, BUT, if he was in charge of grandma, he would take that responsibility very seriously.  And he did.  He guided me through the scanner at the airport.  He sat beside me as we waited to board.  He made sure I was okay on the plane.  And you know what?  At the age of 17, he still holds my hand and meets me at the door with open arms and a hug ... there are no words.

We all know the big blessings ... the beauty of a sunset and sunrise.  The grandeur of the mountains and the vastness of the oceans.  BUT NEVER, NEVER, NEVER ignore the hidden blessings waiting for us.  A cup of coffee.  A child touching our cheek.  Seeing the total devotion of a father for his child.  The wonder of a grandchild’s hug.  There are no words to describe these surprise blessings.