Thanks to our guest blogger Donna Smythe Teti, for today's moving post.“The Lord is close to the broken hearted and those crushed in spirit he saves.”
34:19 the New American Bible
Mourning Coffee
“Hi Donna, let’s meet at the park for coffee.” My twin sister Sue called over the phone. “I will pick up some coffee along the way.” Or “Hey Sue, do you want to meet at the bookstore and grab a coffee?” I’d call and ask her after we put our kids on their school buses at opposite ends of the same town.
We spent many a morning with a coffee in hand and some great conversation. We fell over each other’s words as we chatted about our kids, husbands, our faith and how to solve all the world problems. We gave each other piece of mind, comfort and encouragement as we worried about all the things moms worry about.
But suddenly at the age of forty my dear twin sister had a massive stroke. In three days she was gone. With great pain and great faith I let her go.
My faith carried me for a while but as the days passed naturally I missed my sister more and more. I missed our daily conversations and the comfort and insight that she gave me on life. Without her words of wisdom my faith began to waiver. I think faith is easy until one has to really believe in it.
Each morning after the kids went to school I sat in my family room, drank my coffee and “talked” to my sister in Heaven. I told her how much I missed her and how scared I was. “How am I going to get through this grief Suzy?” I shouted out loud one morning to her as I sipped from a steaming hot cup of coffee. It was then I felt a message touch my heart. Jesus is here too. Sue seemed to say.
Wow! In my grief and anger towards God I had forgotten that! So I poured a fresh cup of coffee, sat down in my family room and thought about Jesus. I shut my eyes and tried to picture Him there in my home chatting with me over coffee…just as Sue and I had done so many times. What would I say? What would He say?
I offer to you whose hearts are broken, the poem I wrote about that visit with Jesus.
Warmest Blessings,
Donna Teti
34:19 the New American Bible
Mourning Coffee
“Hi Donna, let’s meet at the park for coffee.” My twin sister Sue called over the phone. “I will pick up some coffee along the way.” Or “Hey Sue, do you want to meet at the bookstore and grab a coffee?” I’d call and ask her after we put our kids on their school buses at opposite ends of the same town.
We spent many a morning with a coffee in hand and some great conversation. We fell over each other’s words as we chatted about our kids, husbands, our faith and how to solve all the world problems. We gave each other piece of mind, comfort and encouragement as we worried about all the things moms worry about.
But suddenly at the age of forty my dear twin sister had a massive stroke. In three days she was gone. With great pain and great faith I let her go.
My faith carried me for a while but as the days passed naturally I missed my sister more and more. I missed our daily conversations and the comfort and insight that she gave me on life. Without her words of wisdom my faith began to waiver. I think faith is easy until one has to really believe in it.
Each morning after the kids went to school I sat in my family room, drank my coffee and “talked” to my sister in Heaven. I told her how much I missed her and how scared I was. “How am I going to get through this grief Suzy?” I shouted out loud one morning to her as I sipped from a steaming hot cup of coffee. It was then I felt a message touch my heart. Jesus is here too. Sue seemed to say.
Wow! In my grief and anger towards God I had forgotten that! So I poured a fresh cup of coffee, sat down in my family room and thought about Jesus. I shut my eyes and tried to picture Him there in my home chatting with me over coffee…just as Sue and I had done so many times. What would I say? What would He say?
I offer to you whose hearts are broken, the poem I wrote about that visit with Jesus.
Warmest Blessings,
Donna Teti
Having Coffee with Jesus
Each morning as I awake
Sadness floods my heart again
So I pour a cup of coffee and pray
My heart will start to mend
On this particular morning
As my grief began to soar
I went to get the paper
And found Jesus at my door
As He entered through the doorway
Sunlight covered every wall
When He smiled and looked me in the eyes
He stirred my very soul
He thought that I could use a friend
Who knew sorrow and knew pain
He saw that I was grieving
And that is why He came
Jesus knew that I was hurting
And feeling life was quite unfair
And He knew I spent each morning
With good coffee and good prayer
Jesus wanted me to know
In that early morning hour
He was there to share with me
His gentle healing power
He felt that it was important for me
To see Him face to face
Sometimes we need to be engulfed
In a strong and warm embrace
As He wrapped His hug around me
His love through me did flow
Then He asked to sit with me awhile
And have a cup of Joe.
Each morning as I awake
Sadness floods my heart again
So I pour a cup of coffee and pray
My heart will start to mend
On this particular morning
As my grief began to soar
I went to get the paper
And found Jesus at my door
As He entered through the doorway
Sunlight covered every wall
When He smiled and looked me in the eyes
He stirred my very soul
He thought that I could use a friend
Who knew sorrow and knew pain
He saw that I was grieving
And that is why He came
Jesus knew that I was hurting
And feeling life was quite unfair
And He knew I spent each morning
With good coffee and good prayer
Jesus wanted me to know
In that early morning hour
He was there to share with me
His gentle healing power
He felt that it was important for me
To see Him face to face
Sometimes we need to be engulfed
In a strong and warm embrace
As He wrapped His hug around me
His love through me did flow
Then He asked to sit with me awhile
And have a cup of Joe.
As I poured His cup of coffee
I had so much on my mind
Yet He knew what I was thinking
And He answered, she is fine
He told me she is here with me
Each morning while in prayer
She continues to love and care for me
Each day throughout the year
He tried to answer questions
Though the mysteries could not be told
But He asked that I just trust in Him
For someday they would unfold
As we sat and drank our coffee
I stared on in disbelief
That Jesus would actually come to me
And help me through this grief
Jesus said He enjoys these mornings
When I sit with Him and pray
Even though I can not see Him
He too is with me every day
As Jesus drank His coffee
I spoke of sorrow, loss and pain
He did not speak but His Presence there
Was healing just the same
He understood my emotions
As He wiped my tears away
He confirmed with a sympathetic smile
These feelings were OK
I said I feared my broken heart
Would never heal completely
Because the loss I felt inside
Was in my soul so deeply
Jesus agreed the pain would subside
But never quite go away
So He would surround that pain with love
As I met with Him each day
He said that when He walked the Earth
He turned to His Father in prayer
It got Him through each moment
When His life seemed quite unfair
He encouraged me with compassion
To look for joy between the tears
There are many Blessings in my life
That will make for happy years
Jesus eyes lit up as He reminded me
Our lives will go well beyond
As He described the joy in Heaven
When all heartache will be gone
Jesus said that He would carry me
Through this aching and this loss
As His Father in Heaven had done for Him
The day He met His cross
He said this is why it is such a gift
Just talking with Him each day
It enables Him to comfort me
As I sit with Him and pray
When Jesus left my house that morning
I knew His Spirit was still there
So I refilled my cup of coffee
And continued on in prayer
Copyright © 2006 by Donna Teti
Donna Teti has been published in both Guideposts Magazine and Cecil Murphey’s Christmas Miracles. She is also a 2008 winner of the Guideposts Writer's Workshop Contest. Her story Balloons of Hope has been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul’s Book of Miracles available in stores September 21, 2010.
I had so much on my mind
Yet He knew what I was thinking
And He answered, she is fine
He told me she is here with me
Each morning while in prayer
She continues to love and care for me
Each day throughout the year
He tried to answer questions
Though the mysteries could not be told
But He asked that I just trust in Him
For someday they would unfold
As we sat and drank our coffee
I stared on in disbelief
That Jesus would actually come to me
And help me through this grief
Jesus said He enjoys these mornings
When I sit with Him and pray
Even though I can not see Him
He too is with me every day
As Jesus drank His coffee
I spoke of sorrow, loss and pain
He did not speak but His Presence there
Was healing just the same
He understood my emotions
As He wiped my tears away
He confirmed with a sympathetic smile
These feelings were OK
I said I feared my broken heart
Would never heal completely
Because the loss I felt inside
Was in my soul so deeply
Jesus agreed the pain would subside
But never quite go away
So He would surround that pain with love
As I met with Him each day
He said that when He walked the Earth
He turned to His Father in prayer
It got Him through each moment
When His life seemed quite unfair
He encouraged me with compassion
To look for joy between the tears
There are many Blessings in my life
That will make for happy years
Jesus eyes lit up as He reminded me
Our lives will go well beyond
As He described the joy in Heaven
When all heartache will be gone
Jesus said that He would carry me
Through this aching and this loss
As His Father in Heaven had done for Him
The day He met His cross
He said this is why it is such a gift
Just talking with Him each day
It enables Him to comfort me
As I sit with Him and pray
When Jesus left my house that morning
I knew His Spirit was still there
So I refilled my cup of coffee
And continued on in prayer
Copyright © 2006 by Donna Teti
Donna Teti has been published in both Guideposts Magazine and Cecil Murphey’s Christmas Miracles. She is also a 2008 winner of the Guideposts Writer's Workshop Contest. Her story Balloons of Hope has been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul’s Book of Miracles available in stores September 21, 2010.
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