I appreciate a warm welcome — a feeling we all need to encounter from time to time. Last Sunday, I was leading a congregational service when one of the community’s leaders brought me a mug of tea. Earlier, she had mentioned that she would leave some water for me. “Or how about some tea?” she asked.
I had actually forgotten about it, but during the first hymn, here comes a nice, warm mug for me. I smiled big, and in addition to sipping it, I enjoyed holding a hot mug. When I then first addressed the congregation, I thanked them for inviting me and welcoming me, and I said, “And [Name] brought me tea! I don’t think anyone has ever given me tea during a service.”
After it was all over, people were lining up near a table to put refreshments on their plate. A person behind the table spotted me, and said, “Oh, for you, let me get some tea,” as in, instead of coffee. The honest truth is, I will almost always choose coffee over tea, but I could tell she wanted to get me what she thought I most loved, and when she handed it to me, she said, “Everyone always drinks coffee, but you and I are tea people.” She said it with pride.
Even though that may not have been totally true, I agreed, and was honored to receive more tea. Because it was so nice to be thought about, accommodated, and warmly welcomed. This is truly a feeling we need to encounter from time to time.
Smuggling Grace 