A Taste of Chocolate for the Soul

Chocolate, Pecans and Coffee Beans

While attending a Christian conference I discovered an absolutely wonderful booth of goodies.  I conducted my book signing, sold some books, met some wonderful people, and was looking for a special booth to buy something as a personal treat.  You know— the Girl Math:  make a little money and be sure to spend some of it on chocolates and coffee.
My nose carried me to the most aromatic of the booths and there I was—eating the free dark chocolate, and tasting the organic coffee and chocolate covered pecans.  Little did I expect a God moment, right there in front of the chocolate and coffee beans.
I literally ran into a nice young lady, each of us apologizing for the awkward moment as we stuff one more piece of chocolate into our mouths.  We strike up a conversation and we discover we are from the same county in Florida.  We begin chatting at the same time and I invite her to join me at a little corner table.
After the initial introductions, I soon share the title of my three books with her, and to my surprise she replies that she has already read my books, and she knew who I was.  I was slightly taken aback and a bit embarrassed by the comment.  I was thrilled that she enjoyed reading my books and felt inspired by one in particular, The Grief Monster.
Susan said she saw my book at the Christian bookstore at the conference and she was drawn to it. The Grief Monster spoke loudly to her just a short time ago.  She told me my husband, Dick, delivered the three books to her home church for review.  Susan said she saw the book on the office desk, walked over to it, and knew she needed it as a resource.
Susan then shared:  At the time your book seemed to jump in front of me, I was going through a very rough, emotional time.  We had a sudden death of a young mom in our church and I used the book with the family during their shock and grief.  In our church, this young mom died instantly just after putting all three of her children on the school bus.  Here’s a synopsis of the story.
Jill, the mom, walks her three children to the bus stop and kisses each child good bye.  She lifts the youngest child onto the big school bus step, echoing ‘bye, bye, and bye.  See you later.  And don’t forget, I love you.’  In reply, all three repeat, ‘we know, we love you too.’
It is three o’clock, school is out, and the children jump on the bus for the ride home.  They jump off the bus at 3:40, and are a bit surprised that mom is not at the bus stop to meet them, as she usually is.  They sprint home to the front door.  They push the door open.  Each is searching for mom.  Each yells for mom, looking from room to room.  Something is wrong, they all sense it now; something is terribly wrong.
Mom is nowhere to be found on the first floor. Now they’re frantic!  They all race up the stairs to the bedroom to look for mom.  All three are panicking now in their search for their mother.  Still, they hear no answer.  
Suddenly, they peer through mom’s bedroom door, which is ajar.  Screaming they dash for the bed.  Why, there she is, propped up on the big pillow, on her own bed.  She looks fine, she has her eyes open.  But, she isn’t moving.  She isn’t really looking at them either.  She looks funny.  She looks different somehow.
 “What’s happened?  What happened to mom?” The oldest one quips, ‘but she said see you later, and don’t forget, I love you.  How can she love us if she was going to die?’
Questions, fear, and screaming follow.  Neighbors enter and the police are called.  They call the church first, and someone comes over immediately.  All legal and medical procedures are completed, and everyone around appears to be numb and in shock.
Apparently, Jill died of a blood clot to the heart.  She had no previous medical history of such a problem, and so the children remained in shock for some time.  Heavy grief and loss set in. The children said they felt like they were in a deep hole and couldn’t get out.  
Susan shared with me that was when she spotted my book, The Grief Monster, on the desk and grabbed it to share with the children.  The picture of the monster on the front was just how I felt my monster looked, she shared.  That’s what drew her to the book.
The Grief Monster tells my story of how I conquered my grief when my sister was killed a few years ago.  I share my story of all the sadness, emotions, the ups and downs and praying.  It was the constant praying that drew me closer to God.  And it was through the Lord that I came out of my own pit of despair and grief.  
The entire book is a God-thing.  It was in obedience to God that I drew, wrote and published the book.  It now ministers to adults and children, and I speak to groups at conferences, within churches and schools.  I am continually blessed by the return of blessings from my readers.  They share very personal stories relating how the book brought them out of all kinds of situations and emotions.
That’s just another way I am reminded of how God-driven it was, people will tell me how the book would topple off a shelf or open to a certain page that would speak loudly to them.  And it is from these sharing experiences that I learn new things like—it was on a certain page that they felt the Lord speaking to them.  From these witnesses I learned that whatever page jumps out at them, is the page or the place where they are at that particular point in their grief journey.  For example—on a certain page, a little girl is reaching her little hand up to God, and He is holding out His hand.  He will only reach out so far, because He wants us to meet Him halfway.  We have to reach up first to ask for help and a relationship. Then, He will gladly give it.
A lady, who had been abused, was reading The Grief Monster and after reading this same page, tearfully shared that ‘this is the one thing I am having trouble doing—I just can’t reach up to ask for Jesus’ help.  But, now I think I can.’  It was at that moment she knew where she was in her journey, how far she had come, and how far she yet had to go.
That was my first knowledge of how this book was ministering to people.  And so, when Susan shared the story of the three children, I knew again that my book was ministering to people, beyond my wildest dreams.  You see, I couldn’t have done that on my own.
No way, I could never have known all that before writing the book.  But, God knew.  He knew exactly who and how my book would touch people.  And he just showed me again, just how much he can do, if I let Him.
And so, even among the chocolates, pecans and coffee beans, God is likely to show His face. Keep smelling the coffee and the chocolate and the pecans, and remember it is God’s world, and He can show up anytime he likes!