TEA TIME by Glynis M. Belec

I laughed my head off when I read the boxes. The packaging was more than pretty and the box beautifully made. A perfect exterior. A delightful and alluring presentation.

The variety of tea that beckoned me to sample was lovely. The Black Tea Chai, spicy and warming, had kept its promise earlier today, as outlined on the back of the cute triangular box. The Lemongrass, Ginger and Citrus did refresh my palate for a mere moment this afternoon.

I was enjoying this thoughtful gift.

Then I looked at the Slim Me tea. I admit I laughed at the title but took the bait.

Sure enough, the written word on the box indicated that if I incorporated this invigorating infusion into my calorie controlled diet, it would aid me in reaching my ‘mini me’ goals. Ha!

I just had to read the Detox Me box. Another wild promise. It was going to cleanse me through and through for a better me.

I tried them both later in the day. Nothing. I didn’t have a cookie with my tea but still no weight loss. What? But it said if I cut back on calories the magic tea would work.  And as far as the Detox Me, flavour of the evening, no change. But they promised one little teabag would make a difference. And, poof. Nothing. What’s with that?

As I contemplated the Revive Me or Oolong next, it occurred to me how fed up I get with false promises in the world (not that I thought for one moment my lovely tea would do anything in the big picture of my life.) The world is full of charm and deceit. Not a surprise. A nice analogy at best.

Sipping away on the Oolong, I felt no sun pampering or sauna-like experience. The Revive Me was nice to the palate but it sure didn’t put a spring back into my step.

I kept sitting and sipping and thinking. I thought about the new year and resolutions and my own un-kept promises in the past.  I thought about the changes in my life and the goals I need to make for 2016.

Specific goals, it has been said, are the best. Instead of saying I am going to write more, say, I will write at least 500 words a day and journal every other night.

Instead of saying I am going to read the Bible more, I will say, I will read a chapter a night starting from Genesis.

Instead of saying I am going to be kinder, I will say, I will bite my tongue when I want to lash out trying to prove my brilliance.

Instead of saying I will love deeper, I will say I love you more often and make sure my words match my actions.

Instead of saying I will help newbie writers more, I will say, I will get in touch with my new writer friends and offer some helpful tips, taking time to really listen without monopolizing the conversation.

I am hoping, planning, praying that my actions will speak louder than words on a teabox. But I know the only way that will happen is if I lean on the Lord for strength and direction.

 

I’m feeling deep in my soul that this just might be the year that it becomes less about me and more about Him.

Look at that. I already feel a spring in my step! And no tea. I’m thinking I might drink in a little more of that Sweet Revival. This infusion seems to be working.

                                        ****

And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.  Habakkuk 2:2-3 

Life and Legacy by Sharon E. Espeseth

To say God has been good to me seems an understatement, but let me try to count the ways. First I am thankful for the Christian heritage and upbringing I received from my parents, grandparents, and a host of aunts and uncles. I am thankful for my education and the opportunity to teach young children. I was blessed to find Hank or have him find me. I wanted a good man committed to his faith. Hank worshipped God in the Roman Catholic Church and I joined him there.

After a year and a half of marriage and no children, we applied to adopt a child. Six months later, we got notice of a baby boy awaiting us in Calgary. Can you imagine our joy! A young woman had carried a baby nine months and given him the gift of life, but she was young and felt she wasn't ready for parenting. What a gift our Michael was to us! Thirteen months later we were blessed with a baby girl, Christie. Fourteen months passed and we received another infant girl, Jenny . Three young women had each asked for a Catholic home for their children. We thank God for his goodness and for the teens who chose a life-giving solution to their situations.

I have written stories about my birth family, my extended family, and the family my husband and I raised together. I plan to write more stories about our backgrounds and our own family, which has now

Family Holiday in the Mountains

grown to include six grandchildren and two sons-in-law. Like other families, we've had our struggles, our mountain-top and valley experiences, but through it all we've grown in our faith and in our love for one another and of God.

In total, I've written about 150 stories, articles, poems, and blogs. Most of these writings would fit under categories of family, faith, and life in general. I lean strongly toward non-fiction and I try to tell "it" like it is. Honesty can include humour.

Like Jesus' disciples, I am aware of my ordinariness, my weaknesses, and my human foibles, but still God seems to use my writing to meet the needs of others. Often throughout my journey, I have taken over the steering wheel and driven myself through narrow passages and dark tunnels. Gradually I have learned that life goes better when I let the Lord do the driving. Sometimes that recognition comes only in hindsight.

If writing is a gift, I must use it. Although I've always struggled with finding time to write, I now ask God for help in this area of my life. If God has given me a talent for writing, if God gives me something to write about, then he will help me carve out time to write and he will help me with the details of publishing. Then, if God is working through my writing, he will grant that my words, like Samuel's, do not "fall to the ground." (I Samuel 3:19 NIV)

As for writing being a special calling, Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest says, "Our

Lord calls us to no special work--He calls us to Himself. 'Pray the Lord of the harvest,' and He will engineer your circumstances to send you out as His laborer."

Although I want to write and I intend to write, some days God may require me to work in another part of the vineyard. Jesus says, "Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. (John 13:16 NIV)

I pray for God's guidance in my writing, my time management, and my sphere of influence so that I may be where he wants me to be, doing what he wants me to do. This would be the legacy I would like to leave.