"A Cup of Christmas Tea"

I have just finished my annual reading of "A Christmas Cup of Tea".  I don't remember when I bought the book but the copyright is in 1982.  I  know I've had it many years, lost it a few years, then found it again.   It's a very short, simple book, but has a profound message.  A young man got all his Christmas done - the decorations, the gifts wrapped and under the tree, felt very smug but something was bothering him inside.  He remembered his great aunt's Christmas card and her note that she'd love to have him come for a cup of Christmas tea.  He really didn't want to go but finally gave in and went to see her.  It turned out to be one of his soul's important moments.

I often think of the message of that book, what Christmas is all about, not just the most important thing being to celebrate the birth of Jesus, but the traditions of other things we celebrate and how people are at the heart of it all.  Without the relationships to our family and friends around us, the gifts and decorations are all just hollow things that mean nothing.

Now that Christmas is almost here this year, and I'm closer to his great aunt's age, maybe I'll start a new tradition of inviting my kids and grandkids for a cup of Christmas tea.  It's a great time for chatting and sharing what's happening in our lives.