The Benefits of Caffeine

When I smelled the coffee brewing, I knew John was already up. As I wandered sleepily into the kitchen, my morning-is-my-favorite-part-of-the-day husband beamed as he thrust a package in my face.

“Here, Honey, I bought you a little something.”

“Nice gift wrap,” I teased as I looked at the attractive plastic bag embellished with a green Dollar Tree logo. “Thanks, Babe. I can’t wait to see what it is.”

“I think you’ll really like it. You said that gifts don’t have to be expensive. It’s the thought that counts, right?”

“That’s what I said. It’s the dollar, I mean, the thought that counts.”

John knew that one of my love languages is gift giving and he was trying really hard to show the love, but when I opened the bag, I gasped.

A Christian coffee cup.

From a dollar tree.

With my least favorite scripture.

Normally, I might question the salvation of a mug redeemed from a secular retailer, but anything that could live with the verse it endorsed had to be right with God. 

After one look, though, I decided that this gospel goblet would never have fellowship with Folgers. It would have to be regifted. How am I supposed to drink coffee staring at a verse that I have issues with?

I looked at John and faked a toothless smile. “Thanks, Honey.”

Doesn’t he know I don’t like that verse?

Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10).

How am I supposed to be still? It goes against my nature to be still. When I was little, I remember sitting next to my father in church swinging my legs back and forth as I admired my black patent shoes and white lace socks. My daddy would put his hand on my leg and sternly whisper/shout, “Chrissie, SIT still.” I couldn’t do it then and it’s very difficult to do it now.

I’m sure it’s because I had ADD when I was younger although I’ll never know for certain since I was born before the condition was diagnosed. But I don’t think God cares. Obviously, He is trying to get my attention because this Psalm keeps chaffing my skin like a peeling sunburn.

John probably didn’t know that this scripture makes me itch. But God knew. And He didn’t care. Nope—not at all. In fact, I think he delighted in antagonizing me with it because lately, everywhere I turn, this verse keeps coming back like a boomerang.

When John wasn’t looking, I hid the coffee cup in the back of the cupboard . But, a few months later, it boomeranged again.

I was in the garage painting a nightstand that I bought at an estate sale. I put black and white harlequin diamonds on the top and bronze leopard on the drawer faces. Standing back and admiring my work, I realized…it needed something else. But what?

Hmm.

Maybe a scrolling scripture would add just the right touch.

I sat down and thought. What would be the right verse? What would speak to my heart?

Suddenly, the garage door opened.

“I brought you some coffee,” announced John. “And look what I found? I bet you’ve forgotten all about this cup. I guess Garrett must have emptied the dishwasher one day and it got hidden way in the back of the cupboard.”

My gospel goblet from a dollar tree.

Be still and know that I am God.

Hmm. Somehow now, the verse seemed just right.  I guess some wisdom takes a little longer to brew. Maybe being still isn’t so bad after all.   

“Thanks for the coffee, Babe. But drinking it in this cup is a bit counterproductive. Caffeine and being still don’t really mix well.”

“It’s decaf.”

Of course.

Be still and know that I am God looks really good in red.

I guess some things can only be learned by experience.

What about you? Do you have boomerang verses that keep coming back?