Just Add Honey
Tea With Elephants by Robin Jones Gunn is the most beautiful Christian contemporary novel that will sink into your heart and soothe your soul. It is the first book in the Suitcase Sisters series and I cannot wait for more.
Tea With Elephants is a story of friendship and love as we follow two ladies who have been friends for over twenty years as they spend a week in Kenya. It is a journey of discovery – literally as there are majestic animals to see in their natural habitat. And also, figuratively as they learn about each other’s lives, their fears and their worries. There is a love between the women. “There is no gift like a friend who knows you by heart.” And there is their love for God and His for them.
We cannot always see the future but we know who holds the future in His hands. “I wanted to be at peace about the unknown.” We trusted God with our past and our present, we can trust Hin with our future. “I didn’t want to get stuck in what was behind. I wanted to look to what was ahead.”
As we wander through life, we pick up baggage. “You will be able to move forward when you’re no longer carrying all this old stuff… It’s weighed you down for too long.” We will never move forward by looking in the rear mirror. We do not need to see where we have been but we do need to look at where we are going.
Prayer is important. Prayer is as vital as breathing. “Prayers are never just prayer… [we are] creating a collection of love letters to Jesus.” We also learn that “our most valuable weapon … is prayer.” Prayers can, and do, move mountains.
When we have troubles and worries, we need to press into Jesus. “I don’t know how people go through difficulties without crying out to the Lord.” We can receive a peace that passes all understanding, a peace despite our circumstances. “Peace was coming after me.” I love that idea of peace pursuing us.
We are called to preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary to use words. “You showed her how Jesus loves people.”
Robin Jones Gunn has captured the essence of the natural Kenya in her book. It is wild. It is untamed. It is beautiful. A little piece of Africa remains lodged in your heart, for a lifetime. “The gentle, maternal manner in… Africa… and how she [Africa] took us in and covered us.”
Tea With Elephants celebrates friendship. It is a friendship that loves enough to ask, really ask, the difficult questions, listen to the answers and come up with suggestions. It is a friendship that points out the beauty in another. It is a friendship that loves, supports and remains.
All the characters were well-rounded and realistic. They came to life for the reader, as did the action which is seen in the first person, enabling the reader to ‘walk’ through the novel.
Tea With Elephants is serenely beautiful. I am so sorry that it has ended. I feel like I just want to read this book again and again.
I received a free copy via Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
JULIA WILSON
