A Cup of Cold . . . Tea
While Ray and I were driving to Nashville for his test last Monday, I needed to make a quick stop for something to drink. We decided to stop at Cracker Barrel where I could order a to-go cup of sweet tea. I walked over to the hostess and told her that all I needed to do was to order a large sweet tea. She said, “I can take care of that.”
In a very short time, she returned with a giant plastic cup of iced tea. When she handed it to me, she said, “He said you could just keep it.” I don’t know who “he” was, but I assume that perhaps it was the manager.
I was touched by the kindness, first of the “he” and then of God. We had enough time to be on time, but not time to dilly-dally. That cup of tea was a sweet little blessing that I didn’t even have to take time to pay for (and if you have ever ordered sweet tea from Cracker Barrel, you will know that it was a very sweet blessing).
I smiled at the realization that, even in that little need, God was taking care of us. He was with us and He was kind to show His presence in that simple way.
The hostess and the “he” were conduits of one of God’s many gifts. Remember Jesus’ promise:
“And whoever gives one of these little ones
even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple,
truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”
Matthew 10:42
God is able to use any of our—and our children’s—little acts of kindness to bless others and to point them to Him.
. . . it is God who works in you,
both to will and to work
for his good pleasure.
Philippians 2:13