When Their Mugs Were Empty....Their Hearts Were Full

My 33rd birthday came and went without much time to think about it.  Actually, I spent the day in a van full of teenagers making the trek back to Florida after an amazing week of church camp in Tennessee.  My one birthday road trip request was fulfilled though.  Our caravan stopped at Caribou Coffee (which I miss very much) so I could pop in and get a Campfire Mocha to go!

This cup of birthday coffee was sheer perfection!

And speaking of perfection, God graciously said good morning to me in an extra special way as I started a new year of life.  The sunbeams that came through the trees as I sat on the front porch of our cabin were absolutely breathtaking.  His glory was abundant that morning.

When we arrived home from camp we visited with long time Maryland friends who were in town, then went immediately into a week of Vacation Bible School.  June was an action packed blur!  My mom did indulge my request for homemade enchiladas, guacamole, and Columbia salad for my birthday dinner before VBS one night, and fresh-out-of-the-oven-melt-in-your-mouth-chocolate-molten-cakes afterwards.  I wore a yellow scarf and new pair of earrings to dinner that a certain seven year old girl had picked out for her Mommy's birthday present all by herself while we were at camp. She was so excited to give her present to me when we got back home!

Also when we got home, I received the most perfect birthday card in the mail that I just had to share with you.  You have often heard me mention my friend Laurie.  She sent me an absolutely lovely card, and the text read as follows...

Two women met for coffee.

They talked about life -

things they were working through

and things they were learning.

They showed each other grace

and gave each other courage.

Even though neither of them 

had all the answers,

they knew that God sure did.

So they laughed and cried

and shared their lives.

And in the end,

when their mugs were empty...

their hearts were full.

I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts He has given you.  

I Corinthians 1:4 NLT

Always glad to share with you...

always glad we're friends.

It was summer of 2010.  Laurie's daughter was doing an internship at Disney and Laurie stayed with us for a week to visit with both her daughter and our family.  I know now that God, in His perfect timing, arranged that visit.

I was desperate for some grace.  I needed courage like never before.  I just plain needed a friend.  And every morning over baked oatmeal, fruit, and cup after cup of of Caribou Daybreak coffee, Laurie and I talked about life and found grace and courage in a long time friendship that doesn't have all the answers but knows God does.  Our mugs always ended up empty, but our hearts were most definitely full.

As I read that perfect card, which had arrived stashed between the piles of bills and ads that you acquire after being gone for a week, tears filled my eyes as I pictured our morning chats during the hardest summer of my life.  

God is faithful.

He really is.