Richard and I have always enjoyed coffee in the morning but it was in 2005 I learned to appreciate afternoon coffee. I even remember the exact moment our afternoon coffee ritual began…

We were living in Jones Creek, Richard was swinging on the porch swing and I was sweeping the patio when he said, “Baby, come sit with me and have a cup of coffee”. It was in that very moment I realized my husband didn’t care if the patio was swept…He desired my company and wanted my undivided attention. We sat in that swing for the longest time talking, laughing, and just loving each other.

The next day, I was working in the flowerbeds when I looked up and there was my precious husband holding two cups of coffee and he says, “How ’bout a cup of coffee”. I took off my gloves, set the rake aside, and made my way to the swing where we sat and once again shared memories of the girls, talked of the joys of being grandparents, and planned our future projects. Each day we would sit and have afternoon coffee and before I realized it, we had established a routine. Then, on the days he had to work I found myself craving a cup of coffee and our “together time”.

While that patio was one of my most favorite places to sit together, we have since found many places we love to have our afternoon coffee…floating in the pool, sitting by a camp fire, riding on a golf cart, sitting in the park, or our most recent…Sitting on a pier overlooking the lake at our daughter and son-in-laws home.

For Richard and me, coffee has become the code word for quality time. He recognized his “worker bee/ results oriented” wife did not know how or was ever allowed to just sit and relax. Not only did he teach me the art of relaxing, he also showed me the value of quality time, the importance of communication, how to dream and plan for the future. Richard believed in me and invested in me and while drinking coffee we have become closer friends.

Is there someone in your life worth investing your time in…someone you want to be closer to? A sister, brother, parent, friend, classmate, or co-worker?

Perhaps all you need to do is ask them…

“How ‘Bout A Cup of Coffee?”

Be ready…Some may not be willing to allow you to get close to them while others may try to suck the life right out of you. You will never know if your investment of time will be worth it unless you are willing to test the waters while visiting over that first cup of coffee…