Tea Party

 by Macy Johnson

“If the king regards me with favor

and if it pleases the king to grant my petition

and fulfill my request,

let the king and Haman come tomorrow

to the banquet I will prepare for them.

Then I will answer the king’s question.”

(Esther 5:8 NIV)

 

During a recent visit, my granddaughter asked if we could have a tea party. I brewed a pot of green tea and found cookies and candies for us to share. Wide-brimmed straw hats were retrieved from pegs in the laundry room. We donned them on our heads and created our best English accents.

 

Dahlia took us back to a pre-WW2-era tearoom near London. We discussed the troubles of the day while sipping tea. “America has this and that,” she observed, “Why don’t we?” I chuckled as she told realistic stories of her imaginary children. Our whimsies kicked into high gear.

 

My son was our waiter, and my daughter owned the imagined establishment. It was a scene set for a London theater with ample laughter for all. Unlike Esther, we had no care or worries, just a fun time shared with family.

 

I cannot imagine the stress Queen Esther must have experienced. I would have jumped the gun and told the king about vile Haman during the first banquet. Yet, the Holy Spirit nudged her to wait, it was not time yet to spill the beans. God’s timing is always perfect.

 

My neighbor, Susan, and I enjoy our own private tea party on Friday afternoons. I look forward to sharing my faith with her and gaining her wisdom and insight during uncertain times. Any time spent with family and friends brings a ray of hope.

 

I look forward to visiting with all of God’s children in His beautiful kingdom, full of love. I hope you will, too!