A walk down coffee lane and I am taken back to a couple of places. The first, squished between my siblings in the back seat of our station wagon winding through the Rockies on a family vacation. The subtle aroma of coffee would linger as mom unscrewed the lid to the thermos to serve my dad. No drive through Tim’s in the early years!  Coffee prepared them for the long journey. The other was watching my dad ascend the stairs with thermos and mugs in hand to place beside my mom so she could enjoy a fresh, hot brewed coffee in the morning . This act continues today. My love for coffee began early!

Those memories reflect beautiful servanthood in very simplistic ways. They both thought about the other ahead of time. A pre-planned blessing. Recently, I have been on the receiving end of many planned acts of kindness. As I have been recovering, many friends, family and others I don’t know as well, have blessed our family with meals. We even had our first Uber Eats Starbucks order delivered to our front door. That was a welcome surprise! The ripple affect of this kindness will impact our family for years to come. My kids will remember the meal hand delivered, being prayed over in our front entrance and the ever-present desserts that followed.

All because others were prompted to act ahead of time.

Pandemic or not there will always be an opportunity for kindness and serving one another. Around the world I have noted the warmth, love and hope spread in so many unique ways. Many wonderful moments have arrived, along with the tragic and painful. Through the recent months I have observed weddings go on, engagements announced, births of new babes, business adventures launched, academic pursuits come alive, books published (wink, wink!) and a variety of other dreams realized. All worth celebrating in creative and unique ways.  Also, I am acutely aware of the pain experienced from the loss of a family member, health (physical and mental), jobs and community. Can I act with intention, regardless of the circumstance and serve joyfully and compassionately? Yes, with an open heart, ready mind and eager hands. 

The simple act of serving coffee encouraged me to be there ahead of time and serve others in all ways, not just the noticeable and noteworthy. It is imprinted on my mind. Can I just say that my immediate family has daily taken on serving me in ways I never thought I would need. It is a thousand little things they have done, countless hours of planning and selflessness all done in love,

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (Corinthians 13:4-7).

 

 

A thousand little things equals countless blessings for others.

This is how God works, through others! God takes good care of us because he loves us! He knows what we need, he holds us. This verse is a great comfort in uncertain times,

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care” (Matthew 10:9).

Even through the act of serving coffee we can bless others simply and beautifully.

 

Music links:

Blast from the past! God Rocks! is a band our kids enjoyed listening to very early on. Here are interviews with some of the band:

Part 1 with Moira Brown interviewing Todd and Sheryl Neilson

Moira Brown (former host of 100 Huntley Street) speaks with Todd & Sheryl Neilson about the God Rocks ministry back in 2010. Our kids enjoyed the music and videos from God Rocks! Here is one of our favourites from years ago! God Rocks – God Rocks! Five Sparrows – Luke 12:6,7.

Listening to the songs from God Rocks! allowed us to memorize scripture. When you add music, memorizing actually works! I still hear the songs in my head! My kids would prefer it stay that way…

 

Also this song is relatively new and a reminder that God takes care of us!

To Love a Fool- A Rooftop Experience (Cory Asbury)

 

 

 

2 responses to “Mom, Dad and a coffee thermos”

1. Thanks for doing that! We/you/others don’t t always know when others are watching. His blesses those acts of love. Nice songs and interviews you surfaced. Good words in the last song!❣️

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   • I love the lyrics too! xo

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