From my seat, here on the couch I can see through the windows of my mother’s china cabinet. She has beautiful place settings of Royal Doulton China. I have enjoyed eating many special dinners from these dishes. But that’s not what is on display in the windows.
There are cups and saucers. Many of them. I have enjoyed looking at these pieces my whole life and I have even had a cup of hot tea on occasion from them. These are not the regular cups that belong with my mother’s china – these are special.
My mom has cups and saucers from many women’s place settings. She was given them as gifts, I believe, from different people in her life – from an aunt, her mother, her grandmother, loyal friends, that kind of thing. They are each as different and beautiful as the women who gave them to her. Guilded edges, petite flowers, hearty plaids, solid bold colors – each unique in their own way.
I guess we started a family tradition because I also have a similar collection of tea cups at home. Several were given to me for wedding gifts from relatives and close friends. I treasure them because they remind me of fellowship and family meals with loved ones over the years. They each have a face attached to them in my memory.
One is from my grandmother – a delicate lacy pink pattern, with tiny dark pink flowers and a golden edging around the lip of the cup. It is one of my favorites – and my mom has one too in her cabinet. Another is from Mrs. Jones, a close family friend. Her cup, given to me from her set of china, is stunning with dark reds and large burgundy flowers. I was so honored when she shared it with me.
Over time these special pieces of china have come to mean far more than a fond memory. Each of these women had a story. For me they represent womanhood at its finest, living lives to serve their families and loved ones. They are women of strength and wisdom, beauty and grace. How I long to be like these godly women.
If I’m honest with myself I know that I’m pretty far removed from their example. I’m not the servant I should be, let alone being selfless. I don’t always have gracious wisdom for a friend. A kind and patient word is not what always comes from my mouth when dealing with my children. I rarely pass the test of godly womanhood. Even the small trial of a sleepless night wears away all Christ -like -ness to ungodly behavior.
“Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:9-11)
This Scripture, like my teacups, encourages me. There is hope for me. I am not alone – there are women who have gone through many trials before me. And, now their cups stand like trophies of God’s grace in my mother’s cabinet and in my cupboard at home.
May God continue His work in my heart and life until I am able to pass on one of my own cups to a daughter of the future generation.
md.
(written December 29, 2009)
daily portion 