First We Have Coffee: And Then We Talk by Margaret Jensen

Genre: Non-fiction, Memoir
Length: 195 pages

Reviewed by: Elaina Westfield

Some travel the high road in the hills, from peak to peak, where light lingers longer. Some travel in the valleys where they walk in the darkness of their own shadow. Mama would choose to walk the high road with God.

In her book First We Have Coffee, Margaret Jensen remembers the person most central in her life: her Mama. As a young immigrant woman, Mama marries a minister and fellow Norwegian from the Baptist Mission in New York City. The call of the missionary preacher takes the couple, along with their growing family, on an itinerant circuit across North America, including posts in Wisconsin, Chicago, and the Canadian prairie. Although Mama would be content to settle in a house of her own, she chooses to follow the call, believing in her heart that “God never fails”.

The plain language and homey style of this book suit its purpose well. The reader often feels she is sitting at her grandmother’s feet, listening to tales of by-gone days, as familiar situations and characters develop naturally out of the simple narrative. The author also makes good use of symbolism that is straight-forward in meaning but deepens in poignancy upon reflection.

While the length allows this book to be read in a couple of afternoons, one might often pause to ponder the full message being presented in each anecdote. Many of the stories relate the experiences a pastor’s wife might face, such as troubled marriages, loneliness, homelessness, and depression. While the author does not shy away from these difficult realities, she keeps her remarks discreet and respectful of the persons involved; and every episode concludes with praise for the Lord’s unfailing provision in the lives of His people. In fact, one of the distinctive characteristics of Mama’s story is how even her simplest prayers (“Lord, it would be so nice to have ten cent’s worth of baloney”!) were often answered in the most unexpected ways. Most impressive was the unwavering strength of Mama’s faith. Although she struggled with many hardships and disappointments, she remained a dutiful wife, mother and servant of God. A favorite image of mine was Mama teaching her children hymns and Bible verses while she did the washing, ironing, and mending.

I found this book to be more of a challenge to my walk with God than at first expected. More than just a collection of heart-warmers, the moral of every story is to follow God with a willing heart of faith.

Note: Margaret Jensen is the author of several books, including Then Comes the Joy and Papa’s Place.