Mar
16
2018
The Tea Towel
Posted in Evangelism 4 Comments
I love when I go to the mailbox and see that I received a package.
I especially love receiving a package when I have no idea what it could be.
I saw the white bubble mailer in the mailbox with the other mail.
I took it out and instantly recognized the address.
I had no idea what this sweet friend could be sending me.
I couldn’t wait to open it when I got inside.
I put the mail on the kitchen island.
I went over to my desk to get some scissors.
When I opened it up, I saw a flour sack tea towel.
On the front was a picture of a cup and saucer and some books.
There was a C.S. Lewis quote that has always been one of my favorites under the picture.
You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.
I smiled.
The gift warmed my heart.
I immediately called my friend who lives in another state.
I hoped that she could hear the smile in my voice.
We had a long talk on the phone, without the cup of tea or the book, but precious nonetheless.
There is something about the coziness of a cup of tea and a good book.
There is something about having a long conversation with a friend.
Combining all of those things is something to treasure.
I thought about my tea towel.
I decided that it is too pretty to actually use.
I told my friend that because of her gift, she is here in my kitchen.
I told her that I would think of her whenever I looked at my lovely tea towel.
I decided that I would buy a shadowbox frame and put the tea towel inside.
I told my friend that I have old cups and saucers hanging from a cup rack in my dining room.
I know just the place for my shadowbox.
I know where to put it so I can see this special gift every day and think of her.
The day after I received the tea towel, I took a class at the local hospital.
It was a hands only CPR class with training on how to use an AED properly.
It was always something I wanted to learn.
The hospital made it very easy to register for the health and wellness classes.
The local hospital is under construction.
A state of the art plan is in place.
Everything is re-routed during this phase.
I got to the hospital with seven minutes to spare before my class began.
I got a relatively close parking space, which surprised me.
However, when I got out of the car, I realized I was parked in the wrong area.
It would have been a far walk to the main entrance.
I love to walk, but not when that walk will make me late for something.
I saw a woman walking.
I asked her if she could direct me to the main entrance.
She pointed me in the right direction and told me to follow the signs.
There is valet parking as well, she said, and it is free.
I was certain the valet parking was a temporary blessing since the hospital is reconfigured.
Either way, it was so nice to hand over my car and the keys and walk in the hospital to my class.
I asked for directions to the conference room where the class was being held.
I had to walk a few hallways and then take an elevator to the fourth floor.
As soon as I got off the elevator, the conference room was in front of me.
There were only five of us in the class; the other four were already there.
I picked the closest seat that would be the least distracting.
It was time well spent; we all left feeling confident about taking action in an emergency.
We all had our own dummy to practice on as we knelt on the floor.
I was amazed at the necessary compression speed.
We learned that we must do 100 compressions every minute.
My arms and hands got very tired.
It would be difficult, though not impossible, to do this on your own.
It would be so much better to have another person so you can switch when you are tired.
The nurse who trained us said we should think of a song as we compress the chest.
She began to sing the old Bee Gees song, Staying Alive, which is now stuck in my head.
When the class was over, we said our goodbyes and left.
I pressed the down arrow on the elevator.
A young man wearing scrubs came up behind me; he had a backpack on his back.
He made a comment about the elevators taking a long time and that he would take the stairs.
As soon as he turned to walk down the stairs, the elevator dinged and the doors opened.
He followed me inside.
He was quite friendly so I asked him why he was wearing scrubs.
I am a one-on-one sitter, he said quickly so I was not sure if I heard him correctly.
One-on-one sitter? I repeated, using the words he said to me.
What do you do in that job? I asked right after my first question.
I sit with people who are on a suicide watch and people with dementia, he explained.
My heart went out to the young man who seemed to be the age of my youngest daughter.
How do you handle that? I asked and then added, How do you not bring it home with you?
In the beginning, it was hard, he admitted.
You learn pretty quickly that you have to leave it; you cannot bring it home, he told me.
I truly admire you, I said.
We were walking in the same direction so we walked together.
He told me that he wanted to go into the health field and this was a way to begin.
I sit and talk to them or I read to them; I’m just there for them, he said quietly.
They are blessed to have you, I said, meaning every word.
We reached the end of a second hallway.
He was going one way and I was going another.
I am so glad I met you, I told him.
I was truly delighted that I met such a special young man.
I gave my ticket to the valet attendant who got my car for me.
I tipped him hoping he would know how grateful I was for this service.
I drove home thinking of the young man and my tea towel.
They were similar.
Each focused on not being hurried.
Each focused on time well spent.
Each was a gift to the recipient.
Each was about giving time to something worthwhile.
That something worthwhile is another person.
I learned what to do in an emergency in order to help save a life.
My friend sent a tea towel to remind me that I am dear to her and she to me.
The young man sits with people who need to know that someone is there.
It is one-anothering at its finest.
Serve one another humbly in love. (Galatians 5:13)
Serve humbly; serve in love.
Be a blessing to someone today.
Beautiful tea towel- frame worthy!
Beautiful challange to be fully present for someone every day in word or deed.
Alissa, you are so right. I was blessed by the sweet gift of the tea towel. I was blessed by the servant heart of the young man. Oh, to be used by God in such simple ways.
Gina
Beautiful Gina! And I love how God brings people into our path for us to either bless in some small or big way or be blessed by them! People need people…how well He knew this when he placed us here on earth. May we serve him well with the people he has planted in our individual territories…and to him be the glory and praise always!!
Carolyn
Carolyn,
Everyone we meet, everyone we come in contact with, is in the sovereign plan of God. May we leave the fragrance of Him wherever we go.
Gina