It's National Coffee Day.
Throw a party, drink an extra cup, deliver some to a friend, but by all means...CELEBRATE.
God invented this precious bean as a demonstration of His mercy and grace to us. He knew that after the fall we would be SO TIRED FROM EVERYTHING. Our bodies were once made in perfection, but now we must suffer the consequences of our depravity. This is our lot. But God, in His great mercy, gave us redemption through Jesus. He's so good to us that He didn't stop being kind there. As the Giver of good and perfect gifts, He also gave us coffee. This is a perfect moment to stop and give Him thanks if you never have.
So, I have a few words to say to this faithful companion of mine.
Coffee, thank you for being a constant friend. You have been with me through every season since I was a teenager. I had to get used to you at first, as your personality came off a little too strong. I paired you with chocolate and syrups and topped you with whipped cream to sort of pretend I liked you. Still, I grew fond of you as I sat on couches in a little coffee shop with friends in high school. You opened me up to a new world where good conversation was often had when you were around and I could feel older than I was. I don't need you to help me feel older now, but thanks for the memories.
I apologize for my poor attempts at brewing you at first. I would mix you with hot cocoa packets to redeem my efforts, but it was no use. We both know how bad it was. Thank you for not walking out on our friendship early on. I grew in knowledge and quickly ditched my dorm room microwave espresso maker, hot cocoa packets, and trying to make Folgers taste edible. I admit my folly and let's call a spade a spade...Folgers is a disgrace to your name.
I also want to thank you for giving me employment for several years. You truly bring all kinds of people together. Townies, tourists, homeless folks, Israeli taxi drivers, celebrities, French Consulate workers, grumpy business men, prep school kids, haggard moms, dads looking for pound cake and hot chocolate to feed their kids for breakfast, and people looking for their identity in a latte. I remember, Bruce, and his "for here grande half-caf 180 degree latte with half of a raw sugar on the bottom half of a raw sugar on the top." No more, no less. I remember the way he initiated all new baristas by never approving of their efforts at first. He was sure they screwed it up and made them start over or go get someone who knew what they were doing until they proved themselves. He was not even the most complicated person I served (God help us). He was a different person after I got know him,though. The cranky old lawyer thing was a bluff. I could mess it up and he never said a word after a few months.
Really, I learned about humility and serving others because of you. I learned to be around people that I never would have chosen to spend time with outside of that common ground. People can also be cranky, demanding, selfish, and mean over you. I still had to do my job with the right attitude. I had to figure out that it didn't matter if someone else treated me as if I were sub human because I was serving them coffee. I still had to represent Christ and my company well. I learned that people hope to find some comfort when they walked through the doors of those establishments and get their cup of joe. They love when someone knows their order and has their drink waiting for them by the time they get to the front of the line. It may be the one place where they feel known and cared about in their day. You bring so much joy to the world. You bring people together. And people spend ridiculous amounts of money on you. I will admit that I was happy to not see you so early in the morning after those years were over. We were spending a little too much time together and I honestly got a little sick of you.
Speaking of sick, I have to apologize for one more thing. Sorry for how mean I was to you those three times in my life when another human was taking up residence in my body. It was really all their fault. They made me so sick for two months at a time. It was hard on you and me...and Jeff. Sorry I kicked you both outside when it was time to brew you every morning. I'm happy to tell you that those days are over. Don't ask how I know, just trust me. That is glorious news for both of us.
And finally, you have sustained me over the last 7 years of parenthood. I don't know where I'd be without you...or where my kids would be. I have some guesses but I'll keep those to myself. When I couldn't tell the difference between night and day because babies needed to eat every three hours with no mercy for sleep deprivation, you comforted me. You were decaffeinated, but still you made me feel better by your presence. Now, when there is endless screaming and crying and talking and questions that threaten my sanity, you are there. You distract me from murderous and suicidal thoughts. You are quiet, you smell good, and you never disobey. Please teach my children how to be more like you. Disciple them.
You are my nap in a mug. You know how much that means in my life. So, never leave me. Be mine forever and ever. You have been a friend that sticks closer than a brother.
With so much gratitude and with all my heart I say, Happy National Coffee Day.
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