CHOCOLATE MAKES EVERYTHING BETTER, right? Or at least it helps.
Chocolate lifted my mood recently following the death of my friend and pastor, the Rev. Dr. Michael Nirva. He died June 9 in Sweden from complications related to cancer. His unexpected death while traveling with family hit me, and our congregation at Trinity Lutheran Church in Faribault, hard.
From across town, First English Lutheran Church reached out, gifting Trinity with a basket of hugs and kisses. Of the Hershey’s chocolate variety. The congregation’s act of Christian love and sympathy touched me and many others. How thoughtful and kind and caring.
Likewise, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church sent a plant to honor Pastor Nirva at a celebration of life service last weekend. What a blessing to live in a town where such grace is extended to a faith family grieving the loss of its senior pastor.
Thank you, First English and Our Savior’s.
© Copyright 2018 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
I’m sorry for the loss of your friend and pastor. How wonderful you live in such a loving and caring place.
Yes, I am grateful for the care and love in this community.
What a lovely gesture.
I agree. The basket of chocolate arrived shortly after pastor’s death and well before his celebration of life service last Saturday.
I’m Swiss-Canadian so yes to chocolate. 😊
Yes, yes, yes, to chocolate.
I never really cared for chocolate much… until I went to Germany recently and got hooked in a serious way. I have never heard of gifting chocolate for the death of a loved one, but I now think it’s a lovely and thoughtful gesture. There’s just something soothing about a bit of that sweetness melting away, while we savor the delightful taste. Similar to holding those sweet memories of loved ones for just a little while… remembering their gift in your life.
I like your analogy.
I’m so sorry for your loss! Nice to see that one church will reach out to the other like that
Thank you. And that’s what I thought about the other churches reaching out.
Such an event is devastating whenever/wherever it occurs but, when traveling away, it’s even more tragic. You’re left with heavy emotions of a relationship unfinished/without “closure” (sorry for the “buzzword”) and the struggle to move beyond seems to be more heavy and difficult. Sending hugs (unfortunately, not of the chocolate variety…..)
I’ll accept virtual hugs. Thank you, Doreen.
Sorry for your loss.
I agree, a little bit of hugs & kisses is such a SWEET thought!
I really love that idea. xx
I attended a visitation once where a basket of the deceased woman’s favorite candy bar was set out for all to enjoy.
Truly a SWEET Gesture 🙂 Plus it gets people gathering over a basket of treats to reminiscence about the good memories. We can all relate to a family member or friend giving us a sweet treat and letting us gather around over that treat with a cup of coffee or a glass of milk/juice. ((((Blessings)))))
You are right. The gathering of people heals.
I too was warmed by thoughtful gestures of our community churches. The candy kisses were an emotional uplifting for me.
You have posted some very meaningful messages since Pastor Nirva’s death. Thank you Audrey.
You are welcome, Virgil. I was incredibly touched by that basket of hugs and kisses right after pastor’s death.
You are in my thoughts and prayers as you navigate through a long period of losses and many sorrowful moments. Indeed it does take a lot of faith understanding why these things happen .
Thank you.
Sorry for the loss of your Friend and minister! You’ve spoken highly of him, from your words I can tell he was a wonderful man and friend. I love to see support from other congregations 🙂
Yes, the support was such a blessing.