Coffee or Hot Chocolate?

I know it has been a hot minute since the last time I posted anything, but I posted something on my Instagram this morning that I decided I would post it on my blog, and hopefully dig deeper into it.

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As I scrolled through my snapchat memory roll, I stumbled upon photos taken a few years ago around this time, and what caught my eye was the cup in my hand. And I know everyone's first reaction was probably something along the lines of "great, another coffee selfie", but the funny thing is, it's not. I don't drink coffee, so what's in my cup is not coffee but rather hot chocolate. It got me thinking about the many life lessons we could learn from a cup of coffee. Stay with me here. 

Life Lesson #1: What's on the Inside

For me, no matter how much sugar or creamer or flavoring is added, coffee is very bitter; while hot chocolate, on the other hand, is sweet and rich in flavor. The cup that holds both is the same, but the differences lie on the inside. Just like us.

"But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.'" - 1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV)

Just like the contents of that cup, our hearts differ. We may all look the same on the outside, happy and smiley and put together, like nothing could ever be wrong. However, some of us may be sweet like hot chocolate, and have a kind heart, while others are bitter like coffee. Appearances can be deceiving, and it's only by truly knowing one another that we discover what's inside a person's heart. You never know until you get to know them, like taking a sip from the cup. 

Life Lesson #2: Don't Judge Others by What You See

Going back to the cups being the same on the outside, those outside appearances can be deceiving and can cause you to make the wrong decisions when it comes to a person's character.

"Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly." - John 7:24 (NIV)        

I love how the NLT words this verse “Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.”

It's easy to form judgments based on outward appearances. Yet, Christ calls us to see beyond the surface, to love and not to judge. Throughout your life, you will meet and gravitate towards people who seem to be just like you. They may have the same beliefs, the same morals, they may act like you, or they may even look like you or have the same "cup". But, after a while you start to see or experience little things, little bitter tastes, here and there that start to reveal who they truly are. 

Life Lesson #3: Refilling the Cup

Life is hard, and in the hustle and bustle of life, our cups may become empty or lose their warmth, and just like an empty coffee cup we may begin to feel unusable or not worth anything. However the Bible reminds us that we all have a purpose here on earth.

“For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” -Ephesians 2:10 

In the moments where we begin to feel empty, we must remember that there is only one way to “refill” our cups. Jesus!  It's crucial to recognize when we need to refill our own cups and when others might need a refill too. Just as a warm cup brings comfort, a kind word or gesture can provide warmth to someone's heart. Let's be attentive to the needs of those around us, offering support and encouragement to ensure that no cup gets left empty for too long. And, as we refresh our own spirits, may we extend a helping hand to refill the cups of those around us, fostering a community of warmth, support, and love.

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

Please start looking inside the cup at what a person is all about before you judge them or decide how you feel about them. Or you might end up with a mouthful of bitter taste.