There’s just something extra comforting about sipping on a hot, tasty beverage to set my day straight.

I’ve even started using a creative nickname for my orders, since my full name can get confusing, and the baristas are remembering me. I simply cannot recreate this exact, soothing experience by making my own coffee at home; thus, the frequent coffee runs. I’ve spent a lot more money on coffee than I should, and the baristas and I are almost at friend level. 

Needless to say, it’s definitely been a rough season.

Not far into this rough season, and before I got too tight with the baristas, I went inside a coffee shop with my children to grab a quick drink while we were out running errands. The barista and I chatted for a minute while she was preparing my order, she handed me my drink, and I fled quickly before the kids acted up. 

After I drank the entire coffee several hours later, I gathered the recycling to take out and I noticed something. A hand-written note was on my coffee cup with just the encouragement I needed at the time: 

“Your a great mom.”

It touched me so much that barista’s improper usage of the word “your,” as opposed to “you’re,” didn’t even bother me! This stranger sensed that I needed to see those words that day, and she took a moment to write them on my cup. That meant a lot. As a stay-at-home mom, it’s not often I feel appreciated by little ones who have absolutely no idea how demanding they can be. Taking a deep breath in, I thought, Maybe I’m not as bad as I sometimes think. I felt a little extra dose of appreciation and love that day. 

In recent weeks, we’ve had some Murphey’s Law of Deployment challenges take place. As I was driving my children home from an outing, I let my thoughts get the best of me. I started feeling overwhelmed; even a little fearful of possible things to come.

I decided to check out a coffee truck that I, personally, had never been to before, but a friend had brought me amazing lattes from it in the past. The coffee truck barista had the absolute best customer service, took a moment to ask about my familiarity with her business, gave me a  punch card to earn free drinks, and even started me off with TWO punches!

I drove away with a smile as I took a sip of the delicious cup of coffee comfort. At some point on the drive home, I read the coffee sleeve: 

“Let your faith be bigger than your fear.” 

I felt a little wake-up punch in my soul. God knew I needed to be reminded of His perfect words in that exact moment. I felt His love and protection upon me.

Sometimes these curious moments don’t appear in the form of a written message shining out on me. Occasionally, my coffee love is taking a break from motherhood or military life, and appreciating an hour of refreshment, solo, in a coffee house.

Other times, it’s meeting friends at a coffee shop and enjoying some laughs and encouragement together. 

I think we can all benefit from extra recognition now and then.

Maybe it’s in a drive-through lane when the stranger in front of you pays for your order, and you pass it on and pay for the stranger behind you. Perhaps it’s a smile interchanged as you walk by someone on the sidewalk. Maybe you feel led to offer a few, kind words to someone you know who is struggling. Or, possibly, it’s bringing a friend a cup of coffee accompanied with a big, bear hug. These are great ways to let the kindness of your heart overflow and show others some love. 

And if you’re the one who could use an extra dose today, take a few minutes break and visit your local coffee shop. I sure you’ll discover some comforting love in your coffee cup. 

*Check out more of LaVaughn’s writing.