When I was working full time, I would wake up and make the coffee. I woke up at 4:15 and would head straight for the coffee maker. I could do it with my eyes closed. Fill the pot to 6 cups, put the filter in and add two scoops of Caramel flavored coffee. Not just "two scoops" but two scoops with the special yellow scoop that measured just the right amount of coffee.
Like most of us, that system required steps that I did not deviate from. I was set. When I retired, I no longer woke up at 4:15 so whoever wakes up first makes that coffee and now it fell to my husband. I explained that you use two scoops with the yellow scoop that I had used for years.
Approximately six months ago, he refilled our coffee container and came to tell me that he could not find the yellow scoop. What? No yellow scoop? I have used that for years. I don't know how to measure for six cups without the yellow scoop. I was a little upset [not in an angry way but in a sad way] that there was no more yellow scoop.
I looked under towels, emptied the coffee container to see if it was at the bottom, looked in empty coffee bags, I looked everwhere before I finally resolved that "he" had lost the yellow scoop. I figured "he" probably threw it away by mistake. I did not know how to even begin measuring for that perfect cup of coffee.
I began using a white plastic spoon that was about the size of a table spoon with a cute flower design on the middle of it. It has been trial and error for six months. One day I load it to two heaping spoons...coffee to strong. Then I try two level spoons...too weak. One level, one heaping...still trying to find that perfect cup of coffee to no avail so I settle for just a cup of coffee.
This morning, Saturday morning as my husband and son sleep, I decide I will take advantage of the quiet time and do my devotion. First, I go make coffee. We are out! No coffee in the container. I however, have a secret stash. It is Pumpkin Coffee. I am the only one that uses it so I reach into the cabinet and pull it out. Guess what I find...the yellow scoop! I figure since I am the only one that knows where that coffee is and I am the only one that uses it, I must be the one that left the yellow scoop there! Since Fall was around six months ago, I deduct that "I" must have been the one that left the scoop in the coffee when I put it away. I do the happy dance....I have found my yellow scoop. After six months, a perfect cup of coffee is on the way.
I am reminded of a story we told the kids in Guatemala of the lost sheep. Sure this was just a yellow scoop but I had used it for years. It had travelled with me during moves. How much more happiness would the shepherd display when he found his one lost sheep. He had ninety nine more sheep but he had lost that one.
There was a time when I was lost, walking in the way of darkness, not knowing that the Good Shepherd was looking for me. When I found my way, it was not because I was looking for him, but because HE was looking for me! Can you imagine the happy dance Jesus must have done when I came to him? I once was lost...but now am found...just like my yellow scoop!
Then Jesus told them this parable. "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' i tell you that in the same way, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents... Luke 15:3-7
No comments:
Post a Comment