It was a coffee mug I bought for mom, it represented love. She had her favorite coffee mug; this one was not it. It “wasn’t that great,” which just happened to be the same thought I had about her favorite mug. You see, months before I bought her the mug, I was at her house helping clean up. This old beat up coffee mug was sitting on the counter. “Hey, Mom, can I toss this one?” I asked. “No, baby, that’s my favorite one. Denise gave that to me as a gift before she passed,” she replied. “I’ll buy you a new one,” I said.

Her new mug arrived, and she thought it was beautiful, She told me she’d used it a few times, but it “wasn’t that great,” it didn’t compare to her favorite mug.

And into the cabinet, it went.

After she passed, I kept both mugs. I used both a few times, and honestly, the mug I gave her “wasn’t that great”. The mug proceeded to make its way to the back of the cabinet.

I found it this morning. I smiled, pulled it out of the cabinet, and held it to my chest. Tears rolled down my face and fell into my “not that great” coffee mug.

A few days ago I had given her favorite away to someone mom loved very much, saying, “Keep it, it was her favorite, she loved that mug, and she loved you.. Every time you use it, think of mom”.

It was an easy choice. I didn’t even skip a beat or think during the exchange. It was like Mom’s love was working through me. Mom had been such a blessing in her life, and she’d never had her “own special mug” before.”

I hope mom and her friend Denise are enjoying a perfect cup of coffee in a perfectly new coffee mug they gave to each other, sharing in love. And I hope whoever has your mom’s favorite mug knows how much they are loved now. Because she loved them. That’s God’s love for us.

He loves us when we feel beat up, torn down, tired, and when we’ve been a blessing in someone’s life when we’ve poured love out onto other people. I imagine Heaven is a circle of grace, kindness, love, friendship.

When you love someone, tell them often. Because you never know when you’ll find yourself crying into a cup of coffee because of love. Love’s effects are lasting; I believe they are everlasting.

And if your crying into a cup of coffee right now, it’s ok. I am too.

You are all so very much loved.