FOUNDER'S FRIDAY-TEA IN OUR HISTORY

I had such a nice little photo to post today to go along with my title, but our computer is acting up and because of a series of technical difficulties I was not able to post it--please bear with me.

I thought this little sentiment was appropriate for today as April 15 Tax Day Tea parties went on all over the country yesterday. I went to one myself and even got brave enough to take a turn at the microphone! (Not too difficult for me!)

Did you know that the original Boston Tea Party was "held" in response to what were considered acts of tyranny by Great Britain? After the British put a tax on tea, several patriots, dressed up in disguises, snuck aboard a ship in the harbor and dumped hundreds of crates of tea into the waters. The date was December 16, 1773. Their opposition to the tax was that the colonies had no representation in the government that taxed them. The feeling also prevailed that the new tax forced tea to be purchased from basically one source. Sound familiar?

But did you also know that another Tea party style event occurred in Edenton, North Carolina? A group of ladies signed a proclamation in 1774 in protest to the tea tax. It was rare and unusual for women of the time to be so openly political.

I don't know if anyone knows the names of all the patriots that participated in these "tea parties," but their contribution to the founding of the nation will never be forgotten. It's often the not-so-famous grass roots folks that make the difference in history.

In other cities of the colonies the tea "problem" was handled in different ways. In South Carolina the tea was unloaded but then stored in a damp place where it would be ruined for sale and consumption. In other harbors the ships of tea were never unloaded, but sent back to England with their cargo.

So, the next time you drink a cup of tea, remember what an important role it played in our history, although in a roundabout way. How about using your next cup of tea as an occasion to thank the Lord for your freedom and to pray for our country? Blessings, LORI