Right Stuff Wednesday: Tea Anyone?

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” – C.S. Lewis

I know the current trend is toward coffee. And I have nothing against coffee, except that it makes me sick to my stomach when I drink it. Come to think of it, that’s a pretty important thing to have against it. My own digestive issues aside, I understand people’s love of coffee. It smells wonderful. But it’s not what’s in my mug on a cool autumn evening.

Hot tea frequently makes the list, but my absolute favorite cold weather drink is hot chocolate. I like the variety of flavors available in mixes, but nothing beats the flavor of homemade hot chocolate. It’s rich and creamy with the slight bitterness cocoa brings. But I’m not here to talk about the drink. I’m more interested in the container.

I love mugs, and I just received a trio of them from my awesome cousin and mom. They might seem like normal mugs, but they were chosen with a purpose. Faith, hope, and love adorn these mugs. They were given to me in honor of completing my first series of novels. Faith’s Journey and Grasping Hope are currently available. Relentless Love will wrap up Katie’s story in June 2020. Every time I look at these mugs, the joy of reaching my first goal as an author will come back to me.

While they don’t all relate to my writing, each mug I own has it’s own story to tell about me. I got my hedgehog mug from the gift shop at the hospital where I worked. I passed it several times before giving in. It must have been fate. I thought the hedgehog was adorable. He’s also the studious type, and the background is a dictionary page. It’s all very writer-like. But the best part? Look closely at the background and you’ll find heather is one of the words. It comes right after heathen, but still, I think it was meant to be otherwise my name wouldn’t be on it.

My Inigo Montoya mug was a gift from my niece. Apparently, makers of pop culture mugs don’t realize not everyone loves coffee. She knew that but bought it anyway because she knew my love for The Princess Bride would outweigh my dislike of coffee. It’s no secret to those who know me that The Princess Bride is my favorite movie of all time.

I bought the exploding Tardis mug for myself. I have fond memories of my sons, husband, and I watching Doctor Who together. It’s one of the few shows we all enjoyed. The Van Gogh episode was a favorite. When I saw the mug, I couldn’t help myself. Every time I use it, I’m reminded of those evenings watching a favorite television show together.

This isn’t close to all of my mug collection. (I didn’t even get shots of any of my Christmas ones. I love Christmas, and they make the perfect mugs for watching Hallmark movies.) But each one, even those I didn’t talk about, were chosen for me or someone who knows me. There was a reason for each one, and that makes them special whether they hold tea, hot chocolate, or even the dreaded coffee.

What’s in your mug?

By the Book: Never forget, you are chosen too. 1 Peter 2:9 reminds us that believers are a “chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people”. We aren’t chosen on a whim. God chose us for a reason. He chose us to proclaim His praise, be examples of God’s love to the world, and to share the gospel with those who need it. God also chose us for specific ministries and spiritual gifts. These make up our own unique way to live out the purpose God has for us. You weren’t an accident. You are chosen. Do you live like it each day?