Just in Time for Tea

My dear friend, Michelle, lives in Glasgow, Scotland. Duane and I went to visit her and her family several years ago while we were visiting some friends in England. Michelle and I had met on an eczema support group years ago when Gary was a year old. Both of our children had eczema. We had shared so many emails about our kids,and later we exchanged phone calls. I'm not one to have many cyber friends but Michelle and I share a unique friendship and we refer to each other as "my far away friend". When Duane and I first met them in Glasgow we were amazed at how well we all got along, having never met each other before. She and her family came here for the first time, back in May for vacation in Orlando, and we were able to go down and spend a few days with them.

Michelle and I shared many conversations over hot tea that she made for me while we were there. We laughed about how I have always drank sweet iced tea and she put milk in her hot tea. Nonetheless, I developed a taste for it while I was there and it was quite relaxing.

Yesterday I sent her an e-card earlier in the day. That afternoon, as I was thinking about the good times we shared on our visit to Glasgow, I decided to go to my pantry and select the Earl Grey tea in celebration of our friendship. I hadn't had hot tea at home in forever. After I boiled the water and had the tea bag seeping, Timmy ran to me and said "the mailman is here!" I opened the door and there were two packages. When I looked at the one, I recognized the handwriting as Michelle's writing.

When I opened I had a birthday card and a gift. My birthday was in September and I recall her telling me she sent me a gift, but I never received it. I never mentioned it to her that I never received it. I looked on the date and it was from August 11! It had arrived here much later..it must have gotten lost in the mail and then found! When I opened up the gift I was so surprised at her selection. It was a beautiful tin box, filled with chocolate chip hazelnut cookies! Thankfully, they had not reached the expiration date.

Then I immediately thought "God thank you for your perfect timing and how you do care about the little details in our lives". Michelle's cookies came just in time for my cup of tea. Now that is a great way for her to be a part of my "tea time" when she couldn't be here in person!