12/30/2025
Whenever I go on vacation or to a new place my favorite thing to collect is a coffee mug. I love that every morning, when I drink my daily cup of Joe. . . no pun intended (my husband's name is Joe)...when I pour my cup, I can go back in my mind to the place I collected the treasure. The cup is not really the treasure for me, it is the memory of where I was when I found it: the mountains of Colorado, a beautiful ranch in the valley of the Grand Teton's, Niagara Falls. Looking at the cup, my mind is transported to that place and time.
The latest addition to my collection was a gift from my son, Ramon. I traveled to Fort Benning, GA in September to attend his Turning Green ceremony, where he had just finished the first 10 weeks of Army Infantry Basic Training. It was undoubtedly the most difficult time of his young life, but he made it through. Difficult for me, as well, knowing he was going through such a challenging time and not being able to speak to him, except on very few occasions. The next few months would be even more intense, but he was ready for the trials ahead.
I returned home and used my new cup at every opportunity. Just holding the cup in my hands would help me feel closer to him. It would be another 3 months before I would see him again and the phone calls would be fewer and farther in between. While sipping my coffee and spending my quiet time, I would pray for him every morning and send positive energy his way.
Only 1 week after my visit, while loading the dishwasher, a butter knife slipped from my hand and crashed into something in the bottom level of the dishwasher. At first glance I didn't notice anything broken, then I saw it..... my NEW CUP!!! The handle had completely broken off and was in several pieces. I carefully retrieved the broken bits of handle, making sure to find them ALL. I sat there with tears in my eyes... how could this happen.... Of all things for the knife to fall upon...my beautiful new mug... a gift from my son...now shattered in pieces on the counter. How could this happen? At first I thought. I will use it without the handle and cradle the cup as I drink. Then I decided to get some super glue and put it back together.
The next day I carefully reassembled the broken pieces. Taking care to put them back just as they were. hoping to see the cup exactly as it was. As you can see, the scars are still there. The broken pieces are still visible, the cup has been forever changed.
A week later, as I sat sipping my morning coffee, it occurred to me.... The cup is NOW perfect. Every time I look at it, I see the boy who was broken in the first few weeks of training and has now come through the struggles stronger than ever before. He is not the same as when he first left home, but has become more resilient, happier and a man who knows that he can pick up the pieces, no matter the challenges, and carry on.
Many times, God takes the brokenness of our lives and turns it into something even better. We just have to be willing to look for the positive in the change and embrace the new adventure.
I love my NEW CUP!!
