OUT TO PASTOR: I then thought of... chocolate

Everybody has their own comfort food. I have a long list of comfort food, and Apple Fritter is at the top. Nothing comforts me quite like a fresh Apple Fritter.

The other day I needed some comfort food. After all, life can be rather stressful, and you either deal with the stress or let it deal with you.

The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage planned to spend the day thrift store shopping with one of our daughters. Thus, I had a whole day to deal with my stress.

The first thing I did was go where I usually get my Apple Fritter. I was quite excited on my way there, knowing I would have all day to enjoy my favorite comfort food. Even thinking about it caused me to lose a lot of my stress.

Then the unthinkable happened.

I got to the place to purchase my Apple Fritter and was shocked to find they had no Apple Fritters in stock. They were out and did not know when any would be available.

If I had stress at the beginning of the day, it was nothing compared to the stress I was now experiencing. How can any store run out of the most important food item in the world?

Staring at the cashier, I said, “Could you check your inventory to see if maybe there’s one you missed?”

She did, and much to my chagrin, there was none to be found. I staggered outside, as stressed as I’ve ever been in my life. What in the world am I going to do without an Apple Fritter? Especially at a time when I can sneak one behind the back of The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage.

As I drove home, I didn’t know what to do. I spent the whole day trying to figure this out, and if my luck is as it usually is, I will discover a solution three minutes before The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage walks in the door.

As I walked into the house thinking about this, I got a fresh cup of coffee, went to my easy chair, and tried to think through this problem.

No comfort food qualifies for my stress situation at this time. I did not want to sit with my stress all day. Sitting in my chair sipping coffee, trying to figure out what to do, I then thought of chocolate. Next to an Apple Fritter, a piece of chocolate is on my list of comfort foods. We are not allowed to have chocolate in our house because, according to The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, chocolate gives her headaches.

I must say I’m a little bit jealous. I thought I was the only one giving her headaches, and now she’s cheating on me with chocolate headaches. They give her headaches instead of me? How dare they?

I knew we had none in the house, so I had to go out somewhere and get some delicious chocolate before she got home.

It didn’t take long to get to the store, where I knew they had some nice chocolate candy. I went in, bought some, and headed for my vehicle to go home. I was so happy that my stress was almost gone before I took a bite of that chocolate.

I got home, got another fresh cup of coffee, sat in my easy chair and slowly opened this delicious chocolate candy bar. I looked at it very deliciously and reverently bowed to take my first bite.

I barely started to chew when all of the stress in my life ran for cover. I slowly chewed and chewed and chewed, and before I knew it, that chocolate bar disappeared. But so did my stress. Isn’t it wonderful when you can deal with a problem so quickly?

Later that day, I heard The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage pull into the driveway. Soon, she was at the door and walked in. As usual, she came over to kiss me, and I welcomed her back home.

Then she stopped, turned around, and looked at me with one of her looks. That kind of look told me I was in some trouble. I could not figure out the trouble, but there it was.

“Oh my,” she groaned as she stared at me. “I’m starting to get a headache. You did not have any chocolate candy today, did you?”

“What makes you say that?” I said as nicely as possible.

“When I kissed you I tasted chocolate. Did you have a chocolate bar while I was gone?”

All the stress I got rid of with my chocolate bar is now back because of that chocolate bar. For the life of me, I certainly cannot sort this out.

I then thought of one of my favorite scriptures. “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

Comfort food is temporary, but “the peace of God” endures forever. When I give my stress to God, He is dependable and will watch over my heart and mind.

Dr. James L. Snyder lives in Ocala, FL with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. Telephone is (352) 216-3025, e-mail is jamessnyder51@gmail.com, and website is www.jamessnyderministries.com.