A cherished collection of precious tea cups

Mom’s cup from WWII

It wasn’t until after my father passed away that the three of us kids, my older sister Karin, my younger brother Paul and me, were able to divide up a special collection.

 When my mother died she left behind a fairly large collection of tea cups. She had different colors, designs and styles. She showed them off on the shelves of her hutch. Karin, Paul and I handled the cups over the years and had our favorites. Karin and I more than Paul, but some had his attention as well due to the subject matter portrayed on the delicate cups and saucers.

After my mother died, Dad wasn’t ready to part with her collection. He held onto them through a couple of moves. He even remarried, but made it clear those tea cups would go to us kids when he passed.

 Dad was in World War II. Mom followed him to base training until he was sent overseas to Italy and North Africa. He was a medic right behind the front lines. When he returned home, he felt called to become a pastor. That meant moves every few years as different churches called him to pastor.

 Being a pastor means not only tending to the needs of the church and the congregation’s needs, but also continued schooling, and denominational conferences each year. Once we children came along, Mom was not able to go with him most of the time. Besides being home with us children, finances seldom stretched for Mom to go. Though on occasion, they made it happen. Then we kids stayed with friends and Mom got to go with Dad to one conference or another.

 I don’t know when the idea for the tea cups started. Mom loved the delicate cups, but she didn’t indulge in a hobby when money was needed for clothes and food. Still, Mom’s collection started growing and it started with the sturdy tea cup Dad brought home from the war.

 When mom was unable to travel with dad to conferences and such, he didn’t only bring home a treat for us children. He began to bring home a teacup from every place he went. He brought two Mounty-themed cups from Canada. The cup from the war years got broken and Mom glued it back together. It had sentimental significance.

 By the time Mom died, she had a good collection of beautiful, delicate tea cups and saucers. When Dad died, it was time to divide the collection. Karin, Paul, and I had no problem dividing up most of the collection since we liked different cups. Three teacups had us discussing who got which one. The cup from the war was no longer of monetary value but still held value for us. A beautiful deep blue cup also drew us. I don’t recall what the third one was.

We didn’t fight, simply discussed until we each received one of those last tea cups. I have mine displayed in a hutch we received from my mother-in-law. Both the hutch and my collection remind me of the two special mothers in my life. It also reminds me of my dad’s caring and concern to bring home something he knew my mother would cherish. To me, looking back, buying those tea cups when money was tight showed something else—it showed sensitivity and love.

 May I be as caring as my dad when he chose to build something he knew mom would love—a collection of tea cups.

© 2024 Carolyn R Scheidies
Kearney Hub column 7/9/24
https://kearneyhub.com/eedition/page-a04/page_e82608e2-9c99-5ea7-9bca-dced7f100d1a.html

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