I’m sure most of you reading this have heard of the 5 love languages- physical touch, quality time, acts of service, words of affirmation, and gifts. What you may not know is there is a 6th love language and that is chocolate. This 6th love language became very apparent to our squad during the 3 months we spent in Swaziland. Africa is home to Cadbury chocolate which most of you in the States haven’t had the pleasure of trying. I don’t know what it is that makes it so good, but it’s better than any chocolate I’ve ever had (and I’ve had a lot of chocolate in my 20 years of life). More chocolate bars were bought for our teammates and ourselves than most of us had budgeted for. Although my bank account might not agree, I don’t regret even a single one of those chocolate bars.
At this point you may be wondering why I’m writing a blog about chocolate. Well, I was laying in my hammock here in Rivas, Nicaragua when God spoke to me through chocolate. One of my sweet squad leaders had bought me a Hershey’s bar for my birthday (she knows my love languages), and when I went to enjoy it, I found myself dissatisfied. It was about the same time I was wishing I had a Top Deck Cadbury bar (which like in the States can’t be found in Central America) instead of this Hershey’s bar, I heard the Lord say, “You’ve tasted and seen what is good.” Hershey’s chocolate has nothing on Cadbury, and since I had tasted Cadbury, I couldn’t even really enjoy the Hershey’s.
The past 7 months I’ve traveled literally around the world to live on 3 different continents, and it’s been so good. It’s hard to imagine being in the same place for longer than 3 months because now I know how many beautiful places there are to see and how many beautiful people there are to meet. The past 7 months I’ve experienced community in a way that most people never do, and it’s been so good. A community where building people up and encouraging them to be the people God created them to be is the norm instead of tearing each other down and expecting everyone to follow the status quo. But what has been even better than all the traveling, ministering, and living in community was discovering the perfect love Jesus has for me, and all that love has to offer. Discovering that there’s nothing I can or can’t do that will lessen His perfect love because I am and will always be kept in that love. Discovering that who I am and what I was created for is defined solely by that love. Discovering that the Lord is always faithful and trustworthy, whether I understand what He’s doing or not. Discovering that His Spirit in me is very real and has plans for me that I couldn’t even dream of. Discovering that despite what the world says, it’s ok to be weak, because in my weakness His strength is made perfect. Discovering that a life of total abandon brings so much freedom.
That’s what I’ve tasted and seen is good. I’ve tasted and seen that Cadbury chocolate is better than any other chocolate, and I’ve tasted and seen that a life lived in love and grace is better than any other life. Any other kind of chocolate will no longer suffice, and neither will any other kind of life. Although I will soon return to the home and the friends and family I left for 9 months, I won’t return to the life I was living. I won’t return as the girl I was the day I left because I have tasted and seen something better.
So here’s to the good life, full of Cadbury and Jesus.
