The Ballestero Blog

Beverly Coffee Or Marcia Coffee?

My friend, Bishop Gerald Adams, and I sat in the living room of his home laughing at each other’s stories. We had just finished a wonderful breakfast and our wives were in the kitchen.

After a few minutes, his wife, Lois Adams, brought a nice serving tray adorned with coffee, creamers and sweeteners. A few spoons and napkins were readily available beside the mugs.

Sis. Adams approached me first and asked if I would like some coffee. I readily agreed. She poured coffee from her decanter into a cup and handed it to me.

“Would you like some cream or sweetener?” she asked.

“No thank you,” was my reply.

“Hmmm, I thought for sure I remembered you drinking coffee with cream and sugar.”

“No, that wasn’t me. I don’t drink coffee with cream and sugar anymore,” I volunteered.

“Anymore?”

“I use to drink it with cream and sugar.”

“What happened?” She pressed.

“When I was in Bible School in Stockton, I had a girlfriend named Beverly. One day during a class break, we were getting some coffee. I put sugar and cream in mine. She was drinking hers black.

“She wrinkled her nose at me and informed me that I was just drinking syrup. I guess I thought my ‘Manhood’ was at stake. So I tried to drink it black. I didn’t like it. But I drank it anyway. After about 3 weeks, it didn’t taste quite so bad. So for the last 30 some years I’ve only had black coffee.”

Before Sister Adams could get a chance to respond, I saw my wife, Marcia, stick her head around the corner of the kitchen door.

She said, “Honey, if you like coffee with cream and sugar in it then why don’t you drink it that way? I like it with sugar and cream, why don’t you drink it that way for me, instead of drinking it black for this ‘Beverly’ person?”

I was caught completely off guard. I was certain my wife had heard that story several times over. Somehow, it had slipped by her or something. Because she had no memory of my story.

The Adams howled in delight at my discomfort.

I laughed till I cried looking at this woman who has never shown signs of jealousy before, ever. I held my cup towards her, and said, “Baby, if you want me to drink it with sugar and cream, then fix it up for me.

She promptly came over and took my cup into the kitchen. In moments it was back in my hands looking a rich golden color. We all laughed heartily at my wife. We promptly named coffee with cream and sugar – “Marcia Coffee!”

Brother Adams, between fits of laughter said, “Beverly would be very happy to know she got you to drink it her way all these years, and even got you in trouble today.” That didn’t help me much, but I smiled sheepishly.

Since then, every meal that has included coffee whether in public or private, Marcia will take my cup and doctor it for me. When she pushes it back it front of me I always smile and thank her.

Eleven years have now passed and I don’t drink Beverly Coffee anymore. I’m still drinking Marcia Coffee. When I am away from my wife, I will call home and sometimes say, “I’m still drinking Marcia Coffee!” I always get a good reaction.

It’s amazing and yet understandable what we humans will do to please those we love.

What about those of us who say we love the Lord, yet we don’t want to change from our old ways, and do things His way. Or even do small things to please him.

• What would you do to please the Lord?
• Would you change how you dress?
• Would you change friends?
• Would you give up a habit?
• Would you give up something just to please Him?
• Do you really love Him, or are you just saying you do?
• Are you in love or not?

I wonder how many of us, God thinks, are still drinking Beverly Coffee?