Week 88: Like Chocolate
Celebrating with friends and family
Each Sunday, my wife and I cook and eat a meal together — intentionally. Every Friday, I’ll be sharing our experience here in this space. I want to see the growth that will come in our marriage because of this. I hope you enjoy our story. You can find last week’s post here.
Our good friends, Calvin and Kyla, were getting married. The big day had arrived. I️ stood up front with the other groomsmen in the beautifully-decorated wedding hall. We watched as our friend stood while his bride walked down the aisle. Tears filled my eyes as I was overcome with joy for these two. As they joined hands and walked together up to the platform, I️ scanned the crowd to find my bride. I️ saw her, and all the feelings of our wedding day came flooding back.
Sometimes, life gives you moments that stick with you long after they’re done. In my experience, they usually come when friends and family are involved. Other times, life is brutally difficult. In between, life just is.
Dipped Fruit
We came home after a long day filled to the brim with smiles, laughter and memories to last a lifetime. The tiredness we felt was the kind that came from experiencing true joy. Nonetheless, tired we remained. A full meal was too much for us. So, we decided on dessert. Thinking of the simplest dessert that came to my mind, I offered up the idea to melt some chocolate and buy some fruit for dipping. Sometimes the simple ideas are the best ones.
Not long after, a pot full of chocolate simmered on the stove while Sarah got all the fruit together. We had a plate full of bananas and strawberries. Soon the chocolate was ready. We sat down on the couch and took our first dip.
Fruit is usually very good. Sure, every once in a while you get a bad piece. But, most of the time, fruit is just fine. Then there are the times where you get some chocolate-dipped fruit, and it makes things that much better. Those times don’t come often, but that’s what makes them special.
Moments Like Chocolate
The dessert was great, but it was the moments that truly stood out from that day — spending quality time with the groomsmen before the wedding, watching Calvin watch his bride walk down the aisle, listening as he sang a love song to his wife, watching my wife smile as our two friends start their journey together and sitting with the love of my life eating chocolate-dipped fruit. Those are the moments that beckon you to slow down and savor. They are the moments that remind us that all of life is meant to be savored — even when it’s not exactly chocolate-dipped. And even when it is, chocolate dip can get a little messy. So can life.
Things move so fast that we struggle to catch up. But sometimes it’s best to take an extra beat. Listen. Watch. Be present.
Wishing you many chocolate-dipped moments with your family and friends!
