In the past year or so, I have grown very fond of anything to do with tea. This development has stemmed from the Monday night girls' group I attend, at least semi-regularly. Every meeting, one person makes and serves tea to the other girls. We rotate who plays "hostess" each week.
The practice of serving and gracefully acknowledging that act of love has been a very eye-opening experience for me. I have found it extremely challenging to simply sit and allow someone else to serve me. My natural instinct is to jump up and do it myself, saving the hostess the trouble of doing any work. That simple act, however helpful it might seem, is extremely selfish. By refusing to be served by another person, I am pushing away their love in exchange for my own desires. That is not thankfulness.
In a situation where someone is serving you, the way to show true gratitude and love is to accept their gift of servitude. In John 13, Jesus washes His disciples' feet.
And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”
Like me at girls' group, Peter tries to refuse the Lord's act of love, but Jesus rebukes him. It is not always easy to accept, but we must follow that example of serving and accepting service in love. Only when we understand how to act with and receive such love can we be truly thankful.
So now, whenever I make tea, with or without friends, I am reminded of that all-consuming love. I will eternally be grateful for the lesson drinking tea has taught me.
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