Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Posted by 醉茶生 at 10:33 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Categories: Tea Related

There are moments when words just seem too trite, where nothing you say is right. What do you say to someone who has just lost a loved one? “Is there anything I can do for you?“ or even worse, “Is there anything I can help you with?“ These are meaningless phrases, or even hurtful when used in the presence of death. At moments like these, words fail us. A hug, or even a touch of the hand, says far more than words ever can.

When I worked at a hospital in Leicester, the sister on the geriatrics ward kept a tea set of fine china. The set was never used except for the relatives of patients. There was a room set aside for relatives, and while the doctor was explaining to the family what was going on, she would move silently through the room, handing out tea in bone china cups.

Anyone who is not English would probably find amazing the amount of comfort that is possible to derive from a cup of hot tea. Tea cannot take away sadness or tears, but it has a remarkable ability to soothe ragged nerves and calm trembling hands.

The tea set made an impression on many, and lingered long in memories. From time to time, the ward would lose a cup or a saucer to breakage, yet the broken piece was always quickly replaced. There were around half a dozen families who kept in touch with the ward for years afterward, and who would chip in from time to time with bits of cash to make sure that the tea set remained complete. These were people who were grateful for comfort received during a difficult time, and were mindful that others should benefit from the same.

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