Silver Boxes and Scripture Tea

Recently I met with several ladies from my church for an evening  of fun and fellowship.  As soon as I walked into the room and saw the tables draped with silver cloths and small boxes wrapped in silver paper, it was apparent we were going to talk about Florence Littauer's book, Silver Boxes - The Gift of Encouragement, in some way.   The evening brought back such wonderful memories I decided to blog about it.

The book is an excellent resource on encouraging one another with uplifting words, because in reality our words either build up or tear down the people to whom they're spoken.

 

The book, available on Amazon.com, has an enduring message as  indicated by the review dates of 1997 through 2011.  [The book itself was copyrighted in 1989.] And  of 30 reviews, written by both women and men,  23  gave it five stars.   The book is based on Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

My mind drifted back to October 1999 when I coordinated a "Silver Boxes" theme dinner for a group of ladies.

At each place setting was a silver wrapped package containing a silver trinket box for each lady to take home as a reminder that every word spoken to someone should be like a "verbal present" - a silver box with a bow on top!

The feathers on the tablescape were to show the similarities between feathers in the wind, and unretrievable spoken words.

Carrying out the "Silver Boxes" theme in the Fellowship Hall.

I first saw Scripture Tea at the local Christian book store, but I order it directly from  Scripture Tea  by the case [wholesale], so I  have plenty on hand to give away.  The tea is available in green, white or black tea, caffeinated or decaffeinated.  What could be more encouraging than seeing an inspirational scripture verse dangling from the tea bag tag in a teacup stating: "I will never leave you or forsake you."  [Hebrews 13:5]   Cracker Barrel carries Scripture Tea's counterpart - "Promise Tea," [packaged by the same company] with the lyrics to Gaither inspirational songs printed on the tea bag tag.

A box of Scripture Tea is always included in every "Encouragement" or "Bereavement" basket that ladies at church are recipients of.

God's Word [the Bible] is His "Silver Box" to us!

Tea on President's Day

George Washington

1732 - 1799

First President of the United States  1789 - 1797

"The Father of our Country"

In honor of George Washington's Birthday, I went to my tea cabinet to see what tea would be appropriate for today.  I think some Boston Harbour Tea [Mark T. Wendell Tea Company] would be appropriate.  It's a blend of black teas from Sri Lanka and Darjeeling.

And for tonight's caffeine-free beverage, "Liberty Tea" by Eastern Shore Tea Co.   It's an herbal blend of raspberry leaves, rose hips, peppermint, spearmint, lemon verbena and/or lemon balm.

Interesting snippets of history are printed on the back of their reclosable bags of tea.  The Liberty Tea bag states:  "Our forebears, in forsaking the pleasures of China tea for the principles of liberty, needed a "tea substitute."  New Jersey red root, sage, and raspberry leaves were among the plants touted as "equal to or better than" tea.  But none, by itself gave the same satisfaction.  With a spirit and resolve, the Colonial Dame looked to her larder, garden, and fields, to create an acceptable substitute.  And she succeeded, from Maryland to Massachusetts, by using native plants and the herbs at her disposal."

Fitz & Floyd's 1993 George Washington Collectible Teapot

If this teapot could talk, I think it would say "Real Men Drink Tea!"  George Washington certainly did, and his tea was always the finest available.

In the book,  Tea with Presidential Families, [pictured above] the authors state:  "George and Martha Washington were both confirmed tea drinkers well before he became President of the United States."

Tea was the preferred breakfast drink throughout British North America by the mid-eighteenth century.  At Mt. Vernon, George Washington's breakfast included three cups of tea, without cream or sugar [the best way to drink green tea], with three small hoe cakes slathered with butter and honey.

George's first recorded tea order to England in 1757 was for six pounds of the finest Hyson tea and six pounds of the finest green tea.

After his swearing in as the first American president, tea became the beverage of choice served during all state occasions.

After leaving the Presidency, he remained a dedicated tea drinker the rest of his life.