THE COFFEE SHOP

THE COFFEE SHOP

Written by: Jenny Calvert

Ephesians 4:2-3: “With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

It was a quaint little coffee house, off the beaten path in downtown Galveston. It was not a big chain, but a privately owned coffee shop with big mugs, pastries sprinkled with powdered sugar, brownies stacked in neat little rows and of course the wonderful aroma of coffee. The shop was in an old building with wood floors that creaked with each step. It was packed with people, yet so quiet. People were talking softly and many were reading books or on their computers. It was quite nice. My husband and I ordered a flavored coffee with whipped topping. The coffee was heavenly as its taste matched the wonderful aroma. We enjoyed our coffee but more importantly we enjoyed our time together.

John and I have always made time to have what we called our little “dates”.  When we were raising five children and time and money was scarce, we still set aside time to go on our dates. After the children were in bed for the night, we might watch a movie and pop some popcorn or sit outside to look at the stars. We might even have our own rendition of a coffee shop right in our kitchen. When the children got older we would go to the park, or the river front, or would take a leisurely ride. It was nice to have an uninterrupted conversation. It was our time to really listen to each other, to come together to make decisions in unity. It was our time of peace and quiet.

John and I will be celebrating our 46^th anniversary in November and one thing that has held us together is commitment. We are committed to God. We are committed to each other and our family. But also, we are committed to take the time to enjoy each other’s company. It is one way to keep the lines of communication open, which is an essential ingredient for a healthy marriage. So get away together and spend some time with each other. One place you might try is a coffee shop in your own kitchen.

Dear Father,

Thank you for giving us a partner, our helpmate, someone to love and give us company. Help us to always work on keeping our marriage healthy. Forgive our shortcomings. Help those who have lost their spouse, to have peace and comfort in your holy name.

Amen