Walking by Faith, Not by Sight
Janet Perez Eckles
May 11, 2019
Sometimes, we need a story to make us sigh with gladness. Here’s one for you.
The invitation read: “You’re Invited to an afternoon tea to celebrate Janet’s Birthday.”
My mom had artistically prepared that invitation for my tenth birthday celebration.
Bursting with excitement, I raced down the narrow dirt streets of my hometown of La Paz, Bolivia to deliver them to each of my neighborhood friends. The common tradition of enjoying an afternoon cup of tea became special when it included a birthday celebration.
As in most Latin American countries, drinking tea begins at the dawn of life. My grandmother prepared anise tea and poured it into a baby bottle to ease nagging colic in little family members. She grew a myriad of plants, whose leaves she used to prepare tea. According to her, each leaf or herb held special properties to cure any ailment imaginable. Perhaps it was the love she exuded when she handed us the aromatic blend that eased our afflictions.
Tea Was Served Daily
As part of her daily routine, wearing her apron over her black wool skirt, Grandmother stood in the doorway looking outside as her echoing voice called us in for mid-afternoon tea. Missing this important treat would leave us famished until dinner, which wasn’t served until 8:30 in the evening.
Engraved in my heart are memories of so many afternoon teas. I can still smell the warm golden bread at the center of the table. Beside it sat a plate of white homemade cheese and a glass bowl of Grandmother’s orange marmalade. And while we sipped our tea, the conversations with her added a special delight for me.
During the school year, once the dismissal bell rang, I dashed out and headed to the corner bus stop. I would wiggle my way through the crowded old bus and sit clutching my book bag, gazing out the window at the activity on the streets. Vendors in their colorful garb sat behind their stands calling out their wares to the crowds who jammed the sidewalks.
Then I would elbow my way out of the bus and hop off with anticipation thumping in my heart. My gaze would travel past the green lawn to the tall building, the only university in La Paz, where Mom worked in the basement cataloguing books. I then darted as quickly as my young legs would take me through the large entrance, pushed the glass door that opened into the library, and headed down the stairs to the basement.
As I slipped between tall bookshelves, the smell of buttery pastries wafted straight to my growling stomach. Swinging the door open, and with a huge grin, my gaze swept through the familiar scenery—my mom and her colleagues’ chatter blending with the pleasant aroma of coffee, tea and cream. After breaking loose from Mom’s tight hug, my glance darted to the mound of flaky pastries on the table along the wall.
All was not well.
But, as afternoon tea breaks offered moments of relaxation for all, Bolivia’s unstable government and stagnant economy offered scarce opportunities for my brother and me.
Two years later in 1964, while seated in our tiny dark kitchen, it was time for our daily teatime again. With Mom stirring sugar in her cup, I watched as she gazed toward my grandmother and announced her decision to move to America. Grandma set her cup on the saucer with a loud clank, and tears flowed down her wrinkled cheeks. My grandfather, who had lost his lucidness along with most of his teeth, sat in silence, and with shaky hands, dunked his crusty bread into his tea.
Special Moments
After we began our life in America, whether by design or coincidence, I found special moments over cups of tea. When I lost my sight to an incurable retinal disease, my mom and I would sit sipping tea in the cozy kitchen of her condo. She reassured me that I wasn’t alone in my darkness. The aroma of the citrus blend still lingers, as do her words echoing in my heart:
God would provide and she would be my eyes.
God did provide. At times, while the family slept, I sat in silence with a cup of herbal tea pondering just how much He had granted me. His provision included Mom’s perennial assistance, and a renewed attitude, confidence and determination on my part. With the aid of a computer program that reads the screen, I’m able to string together words of inspiration for those who might need a little light in the midst of dark moments.
As herbal tea comes in a variety of flavors, different types of events also came into my life. When my heart was sliced with pain after losing my 19-year-old son, in the midst of cold anguish, I remember moments of warm comfort. My mom handed me a cup of chamomile tea with honey. “Here sweetheart,” she said. It’s okay to cry. God knows your pain, and He will heal your heart.”
Now, as I take the last sip of my Lady Grey tea, I set the cup on the corner of my desk and the eyes of my heart review the scenery of my life. Fueled by gratitude, my fingers begin to dance on the keyboard, relating the blend of emotions that swirl in my heart like tea leaves in the cup.
A note from Janet
I pray God hands you a cup of His love to warm the cold moments of your adversity. And may you taste the sweetness of His Word to soothe the pan and bring delight instead.
Janet
______________________________________
Did you know I wrote a book filled with words of encouragement, uplifting thoughts and illustrations of real-life triumph to empower you? Its title,
Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow: Overcoming Adversities in Life. You can get it
HERE.
CLICK HERE for a one-minute inspirational video.
Looking for a speaker for your upcoming event? A great speaker makes the difference between a so-so event and one that shines with impact. I invite you to view one of my two-minute videos
HERE.
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Source:
https://janetperezeckles.com/blog/sweet-memories-for-mothers-day.html
Some say she should be the last person to be dancing. Her life is summarized in this 3-minute video:
http://bit.ly/1a8wGJR
Janet Perez Eckles’ story of triumph is marked by her work as an international speaker, #1 best-selling author, radio host, personal success coach and master interpreter. Although blind since 31, her passion is to help you see the best of life.
www.janetperezeckles.com Tags: Afternoon Tea, La Paz Bolivia
After my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience. Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites, Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix
On October 29, 1938, my water broke. The time was 12:15 in the morning. After becoming convinced that the moment had come, Ivan ran for the doctor. Doctor Perry brought him home in his car, then took us to the Lovelock Hospital. In those days, the hospital was just a house with several bedrooms. Dr. Perry observing the timing of my labor left me with the nurse and went back home to finish his night’s sleep.
Fourteen hours of labor later, the tired father sneaked into the nursery to see the baby. It was three P. M. on Saturday and there she was, blue as your hat and not a fit sight to see. For Ivan, it was hardly love at first sight because the first sight was bad–very bad.
By the next time we saw her, she looked better. She had tiny ears, a nicely shaped head, a small mouth, and blue eyes. Her hair was the same color as Mama’s and Daddy’s which was dark brown. When one of her beautiful little hands curled around my thumb I knew those hands were the things I loved best about her, although it was hard to choose.
Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years
We all want to look our best. And we do our best to achieve it.
And if you’re like me, you’ve tried various products, hoping that the promise on the bottle will prove true.
The latest one I tried had this instruction: “The best time to apply skin care products is when you are fresh out of a warm shower or bath. Not only is your skin clean, but it is also thoroughly moist and will better absorb anything you apply to it.”
Old Things R New 