Some of us are raised singing ‘Jesus Loves Me’ and also memorize the remarkable verse, “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” (Luke 12:7) Yet I tend to be surprised when God delights me, even reminds me, of just how true that is. He really is the Lord of the details…
Long ago when I was a little girl in grade school, my teacher read aloud the classic, Alice in Wonderland. Only she didn’t read the end. Leaving us with a cliffhanger, she told us to write the rest of Alice in Wonderland. A big assignment for a girl of 8! I remember being very excited as I wrote my own ‘rest of the story’, giving Alice a happier ending than her original creator, Lewis Carroll, did! My teacher gave me an A (everyone got one, I think), and she wrote this on a slip of paper, “Laura, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I think you will succeed in your desire to become a writer someday.”
I grew up and forgot that little assignment, moving on to write stories of my own. But I kept the note the teacher wrote in a box, old and faded as it became. Then last spring I was invited to be part of a women’s event at Brightmoor Christian Church near Detroit. I’d never been there but had heard amazing things about Kim Kjos, the pastor’s wife, and her ministry team. To my delight, I learned the evening would revolve around tea. As a mom of boys with lots of testosterone and little time for lovely, feminine things, I was all in!
So last week I got on a plane, excited to see what this inspiring time among soul sisters of Michigan would bring. Imagine my delight when I walked into an incredible foyer of glass (love big windows) to the loveliest sight. Each tea table had been beautifully and winsomely decorated in different themes. At every place setting for all 251 women was a unique teacup and saucer to take home, many vintage, and no two alike!
I soon learned that I would sit with the pastor’s wife. She said she’d chosen the theme of our table as it had special meaning for her. Can you guess what that was?
Yes, Alice in Wonderland with Alice china, a bakery cake decorated with dear Alice falling down the rabbit hole, and all the matching decorations. Be still my literary heart! Immediately, that little note from a teacher almost 50 years before came to mind, and that particular assignment, my very first creative writing task. Since one of the Holy Spirit’s roles is to “bring to your remembrance” the things of the Spirit, I knew God was in all the little details, then and now. Long ago, he’d prepared me to write and had this very day in mind when I’d sit down at an Alice in Wonderland tea table and remember all that He’s done for me in the years between.
As if this wasn’t enough JOY, I was able to meet reading friends, new and old, some who had traveled several hours to attend the tea and hear me talk about Christian fiction. Truly an event I’ll long remember with a thankful heart, right down to the littlest detail!
SHALOM!
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It was a magical evening. I was so blessed by your visit. I just finished reading “The Mistress of Tall Acre”, I couldn’t put it down!! Loved it!!!
Dear Lisa, Oh, so happy you’ve spent time at Tall Acre! And enjoyed it:) That blesses me more than you know! Thank you, thank you. I tell you, Brightmoor and you beautiful women are one of a kind. That night was magical. Well said! I’d do it all again in a heartbeat. So glad you were a part of that. Happy reading till we connect again!!
Oh how fun! I experienced a tea party of my own last week. My mother and I flew to Colorado to celebrate her 80th birthday with some of our family. My niece reserved a ‘tea room’ at a Bed & Breakfast. We got to dress up in hats, pearls and minks before sitting down to a proper tea with four generations of daughters, granddaughters and great-granddaughters. It was a wonderful time and just like your tea….wonderful memories to last us many years.
Dear Amy, What an incredible, generational event! I can only imagine the photos:) Those kind of family occasions are priceless. And you dressed up in fine style, too! You have a very savvy niece. Thanks for taking time here. Teas are memorable things!!
Thank you for writing this. I needed to hear this reminder. Could use some prayer as there are many aspects of life not making sense right now.
But yes, God has shown up in the details all along.
Dear Cindy, So understand all that and love how you say things aren’t making sense right now. So often they don’t! But you are a wise woman to trust God with the details. I promise to pray for you and your loved ones specifically in this situation as we head into the holidays. For peace and much more. You are priceless!
Ohhhhhhhh! How FAB-YOO-LISS!!!
You must have been downright giddy when you walked in there!!
How wonderful!
I’m so glad that God was in those details, and I choked up when I read about the teacups!
Yes, those teacups fit beautifully with the pastor’s wife theme of each of us being priceless, one of a kind, even if some of us, like the cups, are a bit worn or chipped:) I can definitely relate! Wish you’d been there, too. We could have shared that bodacious cake of Alice falling into the rabbit hole! Repeat, please!
I love reading your newsletter and hearing about the tea party in Michigan.I have all of your books and I am looking forward to reading the Lacemaker when it comes out.Have a Blessed Thanksgiving and a Very Merry Christmas.
Dear Diana, Welcome here – so appreciate your comments! Thrilled you enjoy my newsletter. That is my wish! If you would like me to include something you’re not seeing in it, please let me know! I can’t believe it’s November. I hope and pray this is a wonderful holiday season for you and yours!
Sounds like it was wonderful! I wish I’d known about it. I would’ve come. My son attends there—he should’ve told his mama about it! Thanks for sharing. Blessings to you.
Dear Anne, So wish I could have met you! What a whirlwind trip:) Your son is so blessed to attend there! Small world. I’ve never seen a more beautiful church and such an energetic, welcoming congregation. If I attended I’d never want to leave! Thanks for stopping by here. Here’s to another Michigan trip in future!
What a delight to hear all this, Laura. Treasures ~ the Alice assignment, teacher’s note, event, tea cups, pastor’s wife … Gifts upon gifts. What a wonderful picture of God Who loves to bless His children. So happy for you and all those who were blessed to attend. Though I did not see this days ago, it gives a welcome smile this week! Warm memories, for sure. Thanks for sharing the joy.
Thank you for revisiting it with me, Mary Kay! You are so right about God loving to bless us. And in such creative, personal ways! That’s an event I could relive again and again. Bless you for being here.