Tea Kettle

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 35: Today, I am grateful for my tea kettle.  

One of my favorite topics for gratitude are the little workhorses that make our days easier. The tea kettle is one of them. I have grown to appreciate my electric version for the quick way it heats a large amount of water. I use mine nearly every day. 

The first electric kettle was invented in 1891 by the British company Crompton & Company. It was a groundbreaking innovation that replaced traditional methods of boiling water on stoves. In 1922, the Swan Company improved the design by introducing the first electric kettle with a fully immersed heating element. This change made the kettle more efficient and faster at boiling water.

I use it to make my Choffy Cacao and to speed up pasta making by pouring the boiling water into the pasta pan. It is a definite time savor (thanks Chase and Emma for that little life hack). Oh, and for a cup of evening herbal tea, the tea kettle does one more job before it gets to rest for the night. 

I imagine there are days I take it for granted. I flip the switch and hot water is ready in minutes. I am at times unintentionally impatient and ungrateful. I could not help but think of the Israelites during their 40 years in the desert. They had water on tap. 

"So once more the people complained against Moses. “Give us water to drink!” they demanded. “Quiet!” Moses replied. “Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the Lord?” But tormented by thirst, they continued to argue with Moses. “Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Are you trying to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?”

Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What should I do with these people? They are ready to stone me!” The Lord said to Moses, “Walk out in front of the people. Take your staff, the one you used when you struck the water of the Nile, and call some of the elders of Israel to join you. I will stand before you on the rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock, and water will come gushing out. Then the people will be able to drink.”  So Moses struck the rock as he was told, and water gushed out as the elders looked on." -Exodus 17:2-6

Before I judge their lack of gratitude, I need to look in the mirror and give thanks for my electric tea kettle. 

Today, I am grateful for my tea kettle.