I have a mug that makes me happy.
I know that “things” are not supposed to make me happy. But I kinda love a certain mug – and may be a little too attached it.
This is the mug that my publisher, Harvest House, sent me (and, I’m sure, about 400 other authors,) for Christmas 2009:
So great – right. Great green color. The great big “Think…” on the front. And on the back, has:
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Best mug IN THE WORLD. Right? And I may be a tad possessive…
When our daughter’s boyfriend, Shawn, unknowingly used the mug one night, I couldn’t take my eye off if it. I was distracted from our card game all night.
And then, it happened.
Someone, (not naming names,) broke my mug. I was not a happy camper. And for three days I moped around, whining to anyone who would listen.
One of those who would listen, (or was forced into listening, is Shane White, the National CBA Sales Manager at Harvest House. Poor guy. He was calling to talk about something vital like sales numbers (or my latest posting on Facebook…) and instead he got an earful on the demise of my mug.
Well, what do you know – five days later I got not one, but TWO of those exact mugs in the mail. (One is still in it’s bubble wrap, to be opened only in case of emergency.)
I know the mug is silly, but it is everything I love in a mug: the perfect size and weight not to be tipped over by a wayward cat. I love it. And I love that I have a friend who indulges my non-nonsensical attachment to a mug.
Do you have a “Think Mug”? Something that you have an attachment to that only you can understand. Tell me about it. No judgement. This is a safe space.
My favorite mug is one that a friend made for me in college. It’s ceramic, sort of “squatty” and has such a beautiful mix of tans and browns with a unique design that he sketched in it. On the bottom he wrote the reference Galatians 2:20 which was his life verse. It holds the perfect amount of coffee or tea and fits so well in my hands and reminds me of some pretty great people! I love it!
That IS one awesome mug! I have a few favorites (ever important- “not to be tipped over by a wayward cat…”) , but that one easily surpasses them just by virtue of the verse on the back…
“A” favorite? I am moody when it comes to mugs. (well, a lot of things, but I’ll try to stay on topic) It’s both a blessing & a curse that my kitchen is so small and I can’t collect them. It makes me sad, (yes, genuinely sad) but then it helps keep the clutter down.
Like Linda Tang, I have a mug collection that basically tells the sory of my life. But one I especially love has “101 Ways to Praise a Child” written all around it. Every one of them reminds me of sweet moments with my children. Even now that my girls are grown, the words still come in handy. Love!
I would love a mug like that, Carol! I unfortunately need visual reminders to remember things and that is one I would love to have at my fingertips. I often wonder if I am praising my kids enough. Thanks for that share!
Oh boy do I!!!! I am seriously wondering if we’re twins separated at birth. I have a go-to mug and its perfect.
Glad you got the mug replaced!
There’s a sweet (and funny) story in my family about a certain set of mugs. My dad died when I was 7, and apparently, one of the last things he happened to give my grandmother (his mother) was a box of 6 coffee mugs. They were big restaurant-style speckled brown mugs — exactly the color of coffee with cream. I don’t recall hearing about these mugs until a decade and a half later, when I was about to get married.
My grandmother made a sweet ceremony of taking me to her kitchen cabinet and explaining to me that this box of 6 mugs was a gift to her from my dad. She demonstrated how he had put the box in that cabinet with his OWN hands, and she had NEVER moved it from that cabinet in all those years. She said this was the last gift he had given her before his unexpected death. She’d been saving these mugs so that I and my 2 siblings could each have 2 mugs as wedding gifts. So that we could drink our coffees with our sweeties in the mornings.
I’ve loved those mugs, and they make me think of my grandmother. Drinking out of those mugs also makes me smile, because my brother’s family has a funny story about a few tense moments when someone “unauthorized” used one of those mugs at their house. And because, by the time my sister got married, one of the mugs that was intended for her had mysteriously disappeared. Now that I mention it, it occurs to me that one of my mugs has disappeared, too. But I’m OK with that, since I know my grandmother wanted us to enjoy using them … and coffee in the morning with my sweetie is a favorite around here, in any kind of mug!
I loved this post…as a writer, there is nothing like a meaningful mug filled with my favorite brew to aid in the creative process. Mugs tell the stories of our lives. When I open my cupboard, I tend to skip over the beautiful ceramic tea and coffee cups that were given to me as wedding gifts and find myself reaching for the less pretty, faded, unmatching but more precious pieces that represent where I have been during different stages and seasons of my life. These mugs hold more than just my favorite coffee but associations and memories that bring warmth, joy and comfort to my heart. And that’s a mug worth grabbing–and repairing if need be– every day.
That’s a funny story! I have a thing for mugs (and coffee) and have a few favorites, as well. But mostly I really get attached to books. I can’t handle watching them being tossed about and bent, I’m very protective of my own especially. I suppose this is why I am a librarian.
By the way, irrational has 2 “R’s”.
Think on good things,
Tina
My favorite mug is a Route 66 souvenir from my best road trip ever across country. (It is a new favorite, as the red Yellowstone mug with a bear on it didn’t survive long after we got home). My daughter has a favorite stoneware moose mug she uses when visiting at my house. Both have hairline cracks and we know it is only a matter of time before a hot beverage on a cold morning…I can’t think about that. It only makes them more dear. Mug life is short. One can only make the best of it.
I love that mug! Though I refer to it as my hobbit mug…glad Shane was able to come to the rescue! Also glad for the new backup mug…
In my home, there might be a stuffed llama. By my side of the bed.
It’s a possibility. Just sayin’.