Some time ago, I received a parcel delivered by express. In the parcel, I found a clear glass teapot, a tubular insert with tiny slits in the side, a clear glass top, and two small tins marked “Tea Flower”.

Not knowing how to operate these objects, I opened my china cabinet and placed this glass teapot on the shelf. The little tin cans went into the kitchen cupboard, and I never thought much more about it.

Much later, I was expecting a friend who is very exact in how she wishes to have her tea. In getting out the teapot I use for company, my eyes fell upon that glass teapot. I took it out, not intending to use it, but it still intrigued me: how does one use this?

Not too long later, the phone rang, and during the conversation, I brought up my question about this teapot and mentioned the tins labelled “Tea Flower”. This clicked with my caller, as she had seen them in California. “Oh,” she said, “I know. Open the tin and you will find what looks like the bud of a flower. Place it in the tubular insert of the teapot, fill it with boiling water, and in minutes, the ball will begin to unfold into a flower-like design within the glass teapot.”

I imagined we could then drink the tea, but not being certain, I didn’t try introducing it to my company. Later, I did as directed by my caller. I placed one of these buds in boiling water in the glass teapot insert, and behold! In a couple of hours, we had a Tea Flower!

Similarly, when we find it difficult to know what we are to do or when we have trouble defining the objectives we try to conquer in our lives, we need to call out to God for His help. God promises to come to our aid:

Jeremiah 33:3 – Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. (NIV)

Prayer: O God, it is You, Lord, who will enable us to find the answers in due time. We give thanks to You that we can also trust in Your Word, knowing that You will answer and tell us great and unsearchable things we do not know. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Anne Russell anbrussell@rogers.com
Brampton, Ontario, Canada