“What kind of tea are you choosing today?” my sister asked as she held the menu in her delicate hands. Her posture matched the cruise ship’s elegance as she perused the options. While on vacation with our husbands, we slipped away in the afternoon to enjoy tea together.
The ship’s terrace, called the Winter Garden, toyed with our senses as it felt cool and airy yet simultaneously warm with natural light. The bright Mediterranean sun shone through the ceiling of pale wooden ‘branches’ and shimmered its reflection from the sea through the windows.
Servers delivered three-tiered plates of dainty sandwiches and macarons while musicians gilded the atmosphere with the cello and violin. It was fancy, and my sister Lori and I loved every bit of it! After we discovered the 4 pm teas, we returned daily choosing a different tea and seating location each time.
What made the teas so enjoyable was that we relished the pleasure with equal delight. Our time with our husbands involved different experiences, but the teas were a “sister thing!”
On the last night, after a delicious dinner with our husbands, I said to our group, “I want to show you a room we haven’t experienced yet, the Explorers’ Lounge.” We’d made it a point to enjoy every space the ship had to offer, and this was the last one. We wove our way to the bow of the ship and into the cozy nautical-themed lounge.
Photo by Viking
The guys played a game of chess while Lori and I peeked through the telescope and admired the harbor’s landscape. Eventually, we all wandered onto the deck for our last view of Athens’s lights shimmering in the night. It was the perfect ending to our remarkable vacation.
Savoring moments together made our time and memories sweeter. I think the ship’s crew, designers, and chefs would have enjoyed observing us as we appreciated every little thing.
Back home, reminiscing about our vacation, I wonder if God enjoys seeing us muse over His creation. Sometimes I tell Him, “That’s a beautiful sunset. You’re such a great artist.” Or “I like how You made the smell of blackberries linger in the air.” I imagine His pleasure when I appreciate life, people, and places He has made.
What if I included God in more conversations and experienced life’s joys with Him? With a little practice, I imagine our fellowship could be sweet, like the moments we treasure with each other. How incredible to have God as a friend like that!