Mugs & Mornings

What is it about drinking coffee from a pretty Christmas mug in the month of December as Christmas Day nears its destination.? Children around the world are counting down the days until this fanciful and magical day arrives. Some–like our grandchildren–are using an Advent Calendar to help anxious minds and hearts create a need to be patient in the waiting. 

Gone are the days of using an Advent Calendar with our own children. They are grown now, raising children of their own. Yet, even though those fun days of opening each door on their calendar are gone, leaving me with no anxious little hands or squeals of delight as revealed treasures accompanied by a daily advent message appeared, I still find myself craving to create warm thoughts of Christmas to come…the joys of advent…the peace I feel every morning when I make my way from bed to kitchen for the hot coffee that is waiting (thank you to my husband)...lights on the tree plugged in (thank you to my husband) glowing in our dark living room as the sun is still below the horizon, allowing their brilliance to fill the living room. As I bask in the simple beauty of their radiance, I make my way to a favorite spot to sit…hot coffee poured into one of my several Christmas mugs.

My coffee doesn’t taste any different in a festive holiday mug. Certainly, throughout the year I use a variety of mugs for my morning cup or two of hot java. I guess, it’s the child in me longing to keep Christmas special…a day full of wonder and excitement…the years of trying to guess what was in each package as beautifully wrapped presents made their way from hiding spots to resting under the tree’s decorated branches. 

Maybe my Christmas mug takes me back to cold afternoons when playing outside was my main form of entertainment. Deep fresh snow made way for building forts, snowmen or sliding down a nearby hill…even pulling a friend or two on a sled around neighborhood lawns.

 Once inside to warm up, shake off snow caked mittens, hats and boots, mom would have a mug of hot chocolate ready to warm up little hands, faces, and feet. If I was lucky, a marshmallow or two floated on the creamy brown chocolate….me blowing on it as the steam escaped…cooling it down just enough to enjoy its warmth as it trickled down my throat…warming up my insides with each sip…

This morning, I got on my chair to reach the Christmas mugs on the top shelf…all that were stored away when our last winter began to disappear as snow melted… promises of spring making an occasional appearance….

For the first time this advent season, I sat quietly in the glow of only the Christmas tree lights, sipping black coffee, taking in the simple beauty of our Christmas tree trimmed in red and white lights…red and white ornaments tucked in the branches…red beads strung through the branches.

The floor under the tree is empty except for Christmas stockings waiting to be filled. Presents are still in their hiding places. Wrapping will begin very soon, but for now, I’m content to have coffee in a snowman mug….grateful for another day to reflect on the goodness of God as I “wait” with excitement for Christmas Day 2022.

And tomorrow? Who knows…I’ll  do it all over again. After all, I have about four different mugs  of choice to enjoy my morning coffee….bringing me one day closer to another fanciful and magical day full of wonder and joy.