Today we are journeying down memory lane…I have brewed a strawberry tea & today’s treat is my homemade Gf banana muffin, warmed & spread with lashings of Lf butter which is slowly melting upon its deliciousness…
Hearts Full of Joy & Gladness
Several years ago my youngest daughter invited me for afternoon tea on Mother’s day. My grandchildren met me at the door rather excited.
As I walked into the house I could see why…a beautiful setting was set before me, my daughter had prepared a delicious High Tea.
There were two double tiered servers laden with delicious treats! Mini quiches, petite triangle sandwiches, mini cupcakes, cookies & piklets with homemade strawberry jam.
There were several choices of tea, beautiful antique cups, saucers, teapots, sugar bowl, milk jug & bunches of my favorite flowers placed on the table.
She had gone to a great deal of effort freshly baking all the treats herself, bought & borrowed serving items & planned this special surprise for weeks…
We all enjoyed this special tea time with its delicious treats, mutual chatter & laughter over fun family memories. I felt so blessed that she had planned this out & done all this work to specifically honor me.
When I finally said my goodbyes, my heart was so full of joy & gladness…
Her 60th
I had enjoyed it so much….I thought I would do the same for my friend….You meet her in Heart matters!…as a 60th birthday gift.
I prepared all her favorite treats…I set the table in our front garden under our pergola with my best linen, antique crockery & silverware…All was set & looked amazing!
She arrived….we started this special birthday luncheon…but things didn’t go as planned…
It was a really hot Summer’s day & our neighbor had decided to locate their compost bin right beside our front outdoor seating area!
We ended up having to transfer everything indoors because of the offensive odor & plague of flies that were attracted to it…
Though it actually was cooler indoors & we continued our time together feeling less harassed by the heat & the flies…
After my friend left… I sat….feeling a little disappointed at the chain of events that had unfolded, feeling that it had not been the special gift I had envisaged & planned…
While I was sitting there reflecting, I heard a text message arrive, it was from my friend…thanking me for the time spent in creating the High Tea luncheon, stating that she felt so honored that I had made her birthday special & how much she had enjoyed it!
Through different eyes
Sometimes things don’t go as we planned…do they…no matter how much planning, organization, effort, desire, passion or prayer we have put into it…
Life just doesn’t go as we had hoped…
We get understandably disappointed at the outcome or we can choose to see it through different eyes…
You see, my friend had not known the plans I had had for the experience…she didn’t know it had not gone as I had envisaged!
But viewing it through her eyes it had been an enjoyable experience!
We can’t control the world around us, but we can control our actions, reactions, attitudes & behaviors to every & any situation in our lives…it’s all in the way we view it!
I pray that the eyes of your heart will be enlightened, so you may know His calling…
Ephesians 1:18-19
Until next time….
Jennifer
You’re most welcome to join me in The Reading Nook
© 2018 Jennifer M. Ross, teawithjennifer.blog All rights reserved. Photos on Pexels.com
Jennifer, thank you for these beautiful reflections that are so true. When our plans don’t work out as we had hoped, we make the choice of how we will respond or view the circumstances. I want my heart eyes to view as God sees! Many blessings~
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Thank you Pam, yes that is my prayer too…
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Just like the old saying, man plans and God laughs. I learned a while ago to laugh along and if I cannot laugh I remember the other saying, this too shall pass.
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Oh I haven’t heard that old saying about God laughing, but I like it! Thank you Bernadette…
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This is so beautiful Jennifer! I love that you were able to adapt to your circumstances and enjoy your time with your friend. It’s a wonderful reminder also that when things are done with love, even if they feel like a failure to us, that love shines through and blesses those around us. Blessings to you!
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That is true Terri, love triumphs over many things that don’t go quite to plan, thank you for highlighting that important aspect!
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I bet 90% of my life hasn’t gone according to my plans, Thank God for being God. Again and again the plans for me have been to make me prosper as the verse says.
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Yes, I agree with you in my life too!
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Thanks Jennifer for today. I remember that day and was honoured by your gift of love. The smelly distraction next door was not what I remembered a few years ago only a memory of a great time together and a gift that one cannot buy!
Judy
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Hi Judy!
It was a pleasure dear friend, it’s lovely to have you drop by & leave a comment on this adventure! Thank you! ♥
Jennifer
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I had someone throw me a surprise tea party for my birthday one year. It meant (means) so much to me even though it happened years ago. The act of love and kindness touches me and I am so very grateful for those memories!
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Kindness goes such a long way doesn’t it…even a small act ripples across time…
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My heart is always happy as I read your posts! You also make me crave tea and baked goods! 🙂
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I am so glad you enjoy our time together Amy!
Yes the tea & treats are very good…I do enjoy a good cuppa & treat!
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It’s funny how we often view things as failures just because they didn’t work out as we planned. You give us a helpful reminder that when we look at the situation through a new perspective rather than our own expectations, we can see that it turned out all right. Thanks for the post, Jennifer!
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Its all in the perception isn’t it Jen! We create scenarios in our minds but reality never quite works out to our scenarios…
Lovely to have you drop by!
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Ture friends always know that the thought and actions count more than the outcome!
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I agree Anita…Lovely to have you drop by.
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I just experienced a somewhat similar situation with my husband’s birthday. The morning didn’t go the way I had planned it to go, which upset me. But he loved everything regardless. It’s not about our plans, I realized, but about showing Christ’s love through all we do. Even if our plans don’t go the way we desired. 🙂
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Yes Emily, I agree, we do focus on the plan rather than the love that we are sharing, don’t we…
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What a beautiful treat your daughter prepared for you and you prepared for your friend! I’m sorry it didn’t all go according to plan but I’m glad she enjoyed it anyway! It’s so true that even when life doesn’t go according to our plans God can still work through what we do and use it to bless people!
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That is so very true Lesley…
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Hi Jennifer, What a lovely day your daughter provided for you, and what a lovely day your prepared for your friend.
For me, it’s all the thought that went into something, not the external circumstances that are out of one’s control.
Thank you for sharing your insights.
It’s always a treat to visit here. 🙂
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What a lovely gesture both you and your daughter made. To surprisingly be the guest of honor, what a delight. Life certainly does have its fair share of twists and turns but it’s those turns that make it exciting. Imagine if everything always went exactly to plan, I for one am very thankful that it doesn’t. Thank you for the gentle reminder.🌸
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Absolutely, I am too, its quite often the unexpected that brings exciting change.
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I find this happens regularly as I prepare bridal and baby showers for people at church and even special birthdays for my children. Never does everything I plan get done or everything I do go according to plan. But I remind myself, every time, that I’m the only one who knows what didn’t happen. 🙂 And no one ever knows. 🙂
God can take our best intentions (and sometimes our lack their of) and turn them into something special to bring him glory and bless others. 🙂
Thanks for sharing this! 🙂
Blessings,
Babychaser
mamasabrush.wordpress.com
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This is very true, it’s realizing that reality can be very different to well thought out plans & going with the flow on the day of occasion is so much more pleasant & enjoyable!
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Glad you still had a great time with your friend even though it didn’t go quite as planned. Love your pictures!
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Thank you, yes Judy & I always have a lovely time together…
Lovely to have you here for a cuppa!
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Loved your beautiful pictures and reflections. Thank you for sharing with Grace and Truth.
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You’re welcome Maree,
It was great to have you drop by for a time together!
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To quote the famous “philosopher” John Lennon “Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.” You did a great job of making other plans. I think our perfectionism sometimes works to chip away at our happiness. You did a wonderful thing for your friend. I really enjoyed reading your post, so I followed you. So glad I found your corner of the internet!
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That is so true “life happens when we are busy making other plans!” Lol!
So glad you enjoyed your visit Laurie & that you will be dropping in again, how lovely, you will be welcome anytime!
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What a sweet gift of hospitality! It helps me to remember that when things don’t go as I have planned, they are still going as God has planned. Thank you for joining us at Encouraging Word Wednesday this week!
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Hi Charlie ,
That is so true! Lovely to have you drop by!
It’s a joy to be a part of such a creative group.
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As I plan a party for a friend, your point is much-needed! Thanks for freeing me from worry that it won’t be as grand as I envision, but can still be special for her!
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what a precious gift – even if it doesn’t turn out as perfect as we’d envisioned, hospitality and generosity is always special.
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Thank you Kym! I agree showing a little love is always a blessing. Lovely having you drop by today ☺️
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Jennifer, love these creative posts! Thank you for this reflection on when things don’t always go the way we hoped. I am thankful for the reminder that while we can’t control some things, we can always control our responses!
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Thank you Donna! Yes, that’s one thing we do have control over ☺️
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