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| A 3:00 A.M. Tea-Time with a Grandson |
Teachable moments change lives.
They can last a life time too.
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Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
Our daughter and her family came for the Thanksgiving holiday on Wednesday. At 3:00 a.m. on Thursday, our 17 year old grandson beat me down stairs to have a snack while I started the turkey preps. As I brought out the supplies and utensils, Seth munched on green grapes as my teacup waited piping hot on the counter for me to take quick sips.
Note: Tea-time is just an excuse to come together. Drinking the liquid isn’t always necessary. Grapes will do too.
“Do you want to learn how to make the dressing, Seth?”
His response was as enthusiastic as his quick spring from the kitchen stool, “Sure.”
Taking advantage of the unplanned moment, I handed Seth the bag of dressing mix and said, “Follow the directions.” With a whip-lash look at me, he took the challenge.
Smiling ear-to-ear when all was complete, Seth thought he was finished.
My own smile crossed my face with a mischievous twinkle in my eye as I handed him an egg. “This is my grannie’s secret to a moist dressing. Open the egg, drop it in the mixture and stir.”
While the dressing was being made, I cleaned the turkey once more. So, it was ready for Seth to stuff his first turkey. The smile dropped from Seth’s face when he realized, he was going to be cramming the bird himself. Teachable moments do have unexpected surprises.
The packed 21 pound bird looked comfortable in the aluminum foiled pan lined with extended foil. “Dry your hands real well. You’re going to season this big guy.”
Dried herbs from our garden was waiting on a plate. “Take hold of the Rosemary branch. Smell it.”
With a look that silently said, “O.K.” Seth waited for further instructions.
“Pull the barbs off the stem and crush them in the palm of your hand like this.”
He mimicked me.
“Now smell!”
“Wow. It’s smells stronger.”
“Crushing dried herbs brings out their oils. Do this with all these herbs as you sprinkle them over the turkey.”
The Thanksgiving smells were beginning to fill the kitchen. The bird looked good with its colorful makeup of seasonings. Now was the time of sharing a secret of my own with Seth.
As I was showing Seth how to fold and seal the extended aluminum foil around the turkey without touching it, I shared, “The best ingredient you can add to anything you are making is prayer. Yes, pray that the food turns out good without becoming a burnt offering. However, it’s the prayers you pray for the people you’re going to serve that makes the work seem easy, the food tastes fine, and peace fills the air as well as your guests.”
With quivering arms, Seth carried the decked out bird to the hot oven. Avoiding the oven walls and elements he laid down the heavy silver pod with ease. As he closed the oven door, it seemed as if he stood taller than ever before.
A grin crept wide on his face, “Grand-mommy, I’m going back to bed.”
I’d planned on going back to bed too after the kitchen was back in order and my teacup was empty. Nevertheless, as I headed to bed our youngest grandson surprised me with, “Good morning, Grand-mommy.” There’s a teachable tale here too, but that will wait for another day.
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| The best bast is prayer. |
Time ticked on, the seasonings were sending out waves of wonderful aromas, and Seth was ready to experience basting the turkey. Folding the foil back and tucking the ends under, it looked like a nest of silver around the bird. Seth’s parents watched with surprise as he took ownership of the process.
Thanksgiving morning started with a cup of tea and a bowl of grapes in the wee hour of 3:00 a.m. that turned into a teachable moment that built confidence in a teen that will last him a life time.
What was your favorite tea-time?
Teachable moments make the most interesting stories. What is one of yours?
May you continue to steep in the Lord’s presence for unexpected teachable moments that will last you a life time.
Uplifting blessings,
Carolyn
