An Afternoon Repose

In our busy lives, it is sometimes hard to pause for even a moment in the day. We in America are especially prone to keep ourselves going at a dizzying pace because we carve out time to just relax. In many other cultures, there are built-in breaks during the day. If you travel to Spain, you will find that most restaurants and stores are closed for several hours during the afternoon for "Siesta." Workers return home for lunch with the family and a short nap before returning to work.

In England, the tradition of Afternoon Tea provides a respite in the midst of a busy day. Afternoon Tea was started by Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford. She was a good friend of Queen Victoria. During the 18th century, dinner was often served as late as 8:00 p.m. There was a long period between lunch and dinner, and so she often got a "sinking feeling" right around 4:00 in the afternoon. During a stay at Belvoir Castle, she began requesting Darjeeling tea and small cakes or sandwiches to be sent to her room in the afternoon. She enjoyed it so much that she started to invite her friends to join her, and thus the tradition of afternoon tea was started.

Afternoon Tea is a wonderful way to relax and appreciate the beauty in each day. Everything about teatime is beautiful. From the china teacups to the petite sandwiches and delicate cakes, Afternoon Tea exudes elegance. And because a cup of tea takes some time to finish, it almost forces you to slow down and take pause. And you can experiment with taking tea in a variety of ways. During warm weather, have a glass of iced tea outside on the porch. This lovely setting from Tea Time Magazine captures the beauty of an alfresco setting. Add some edible flowers in your teacup. In the fall, add a cinnamon to some apple tea. In the wintertime, substitute tea for hot chocolate with a dollop of whipped cream.

Psalm 23:5 says, "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil, my cup overflows." So when you drink your cup of tea, think of the many ways in which God has made "your cup overflow." Name your blessings. God has promised to bless you so that you will always have more than you need and enough to give to others.

For Afternoon tea recipes, table settings and inspiration, visit Tea Time Magazine.