Mom Heart Moments #272

In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

ONE BLUSTERY FALL DAY, I stood in the kitchen with thirteen-year-old Nathan. Outside, crimson oak leaves shook on limbs and wafted in the wind as the first storm of autumn blew in with dark clouds threatening rain. Inside, all was coziness and candlelight as the other kids prepared the living room for a morning of reading aloud. Nathan and I had the important task, at least in our family, of making coffee. As we waited for the water to boil, we looked out the window.

“Look at the colors, Mom,” he said, as he leaned closer to the glass. “It’s amazing out there.”

I nodded as the kettle shrilled and Nathan turned to help me select the mugs, measure ground coffee into the filters, and pour just the right amount of boiling water. As I began to tend to the mugs of steaming coffee, Nathan took his aside and, with the air of a master chef, began to craft his own perfect mug of coffee —first the requisite sugar and cream, then whipped cream artfully squirted into a pointy mound, and finally a dusting of cocoa powder sprinkled sparingly on top.

“Look, Mom,” he grinned. “It’s a masterpiece.”

Taking a first sip to sample his work, he rolled his eyes at the delightful deliciousness of it as he licked the whipped cream mustache from his lips. He held the mug out to me for a toast, and then suddenly spread his arms wide.

“God is absolutely the best, Mom! He made coffee, and cream, and chocolate, and,” pointing to the window, “fall leaves and storms and everything! He didn’t have to make us with taste buds, but He did, and life is amazing!”

I smiled. “Nathan,” I said, “you are absolutely right. I hope you always remember that.”

I often need the reminder that life is awesome, myself! What beauty might you find right around you to be thankful for today?