Tea With God: Thy Word is my Comfort
For my friend, Juanita
At the tea-kettle’s whistle, I was ready to brew a soothing pot of organic white tea, something gentle for this afternoon.
I brought my tea, with its soft flowery fragrance, to my studio. My notebooks were there, full of lists of items to address along with a small stack of correspondence, but I felt a tug on my heart that pulled me away from these items. I picked up the phone and call my friend, Juanita.
She immediately picked up and our conversation began as though we had just spoken yesterday. (In reality, it had been a few months.) As I started to report on some of my recent adventures and ideas, Juanita, as always, listened patiently to my stories, quietly adding some of her fun comments that always remind me not to take life so seriously.
As we continued, Juanita said, “I have a story to tell you. Did I ever tell you about my Dad?”
Juanita proceeded to tell me about her father who was in the Great War and was on a ship that was attacked. A few crew members were able to escape onto a small life raft. But because they had more men on the life raft then it could handle, the men would take turns floating in the water next to the raft to allow others room to rest. As they were floating in these cold and turbulent seas, Juanita’s Dad told her how he kept praying to God for them to be rescued so He could return home to his family. He told Juanita that he gave God his word that if he and his crew were rescued, he would dedicate the rest of his life to serve his Heavenly Father.
Juanita’s Dad and his crew were finally rescued. Juanita quietly continued telling me how her Dad shared how God heard and answered his prayers to bring him home to his family. From the very first day of his return home, her Dad kept his word and committed his time as a volunteer at the church, doing odd jobs from repairing bathrooms, cleaning rooms, and mowing the lawn till his very last days. He was often asked to take on other roles, to preach or serve administratively at the church, but he always quietly declined.
Her Dad often shared with her and her siblings that he would always keep his word and stay true to his word — whether it was his word of commitment in his prayer to God during those dark days of the war, crowded on a life raft with the few surviving crew members in the frigid seas, or to his family. His word would never waiver.
“I do not know why I told you this story,” Juanita said suddenly.
I immediately responded saying, “It was the story I needed to hear today. Your story is a needed reminder to me of how our Heavenly ‘Dad’, our God, has kept, and always will keep, his word of loving promises and blessings.”
As I took my last sip of tea, our special time of sharing and reminiscing came to a close. We said our goodbyes and I spent a few moments replaying Juanita’s story in my mind. What a special time to study God’s word and to meditate on his word through all seasons and to live a life of true peace in God’s love.
I invite you to take the time to find comfort in reading God’s word.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
John 1:1 (NIV)
In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise—
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
Psalms 56:10 (NIV)
As for God, his way is perfect:
The Lord’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.
For who is God besides the Lord?
And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength
and keeps my way secure.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he causes me to stand on the heights.
Samuel 22: 31-34
How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
By living according to your word.
I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart
Psalm 119 9-11
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
Psalm 119:105