Family HospitaliTea

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, 

but also to the interests of others." 

~Philippians 2:4

As I gaze at this photo I am reminded of a wedding gift Dan and I will always remember. Among the silver, crystal, cookware, and envelopes of money, I would say that this gift was one of our favorites.  It was a simple wooden breakfast tray.  The tray was used to celebrate special occasions such as anniversaries and birthdays, to bring meals to a sick family member, or to hold our tea cups or coffee mugs as we read our books during late evenings. Needless to say, we were saddened when the cherished gift broke.  Replacing it was easy, and we still serve one another with the upgraded version.  

I believe every family should have a breakfast tray in their home. It symbolizes thoughtfulness, generosity, and love.  Teaching a child to help in the process of getting the meal ready cultivates a servant's heart as well.  What a joy it is to see a family member's look of delight whenever he/she is served a meal in bed, or in some cases, on the sofa.

As our family grows older we work around school and work schedules to serve breakfast in bed.  The children, when they were much younger, used to linger in their rooms after being presented with a birthday tray of food and gifts.  Nowadays, they find themselves taking the tray to the dining room to join the rest of the family. We like the tradition and cherish it more since we know it won't be long before Dan and I will find ourselves celebrating breakfast-in-bed birthdays without the kids. (Sniff, sniff, sniff..)

What a blessing it was to see Dan bringing me breakfast a few days ago.  Somehow he knew I'd be needing it.  He was right...I woke up with a migraine.  I feel a little guilty because I have enjoyed more meals in bed than he has.  That will have to change.  Our time together as a couple also passes quickly these days as well. It really doesn't take a lot of effort to put a meal on a tray to tell your loved one that he/she is special.  

Do you have a tray hidden in a closet or holding magazines on a table?  You could put an unforgettable smile on a loved one's face when you present them with a meal in bed and a  heart that says, "You are very special to me and you are loved."

Accoutrements for a serving tray: egg serving cup, small bud vase, cloth napkin, daily devotional/newspaper/magazine, place setting, small cups to hold syrup, berries, cream, or sugar, card/handwritten letter.