M&M's - A Tasty Treat!

The MJK's are celebrating another wedding anniversary, June 10th!  This celebration is just shy of the big one! Next year it will be "Golden!" I don't think it occurred to me when I met Monique Jeanne during our early college days that should we ever marry, we would have the same initials! Now, I can be pretty sure that Monique was doing all kinds of calculations without my awareness because after our fourth child some years later, she would acknowledge, "I really had planned on five children!" "Uh boy!" I sighed and said, "I didn't know that!" And I meant it!

Our firstborn would be another MJK and so were the other three that followed! Six MJK's in total! Therefore, we learned to be clear when signing MJK as to which specific one of us it represented! I have tried to pull rank by referring to myself as "THE MJK!" The other members of our household have not be amused! Every once and a while, I will be surprised by how others regard us. A beloved pastor friend who was appointed to another church last year will sometimes address her emails "To My Favorite M&M's"

A 3D Treat with Triangles!

Now, I love M&M's, especially the blue ones! I have a not-so-serious debate going with one of our granddaughters that I can even taste the difference! Of course, I cannot! But she loves to tease me back by disagreeing that the chocolate colored ones are much better than Poppi's favorite blues! Did you realize that M&M's are mentioned in the Bible? Please try not to groan at this juvenile attempt at humor! The answer is... Mary & Martha!! 😁

I shamelessly confess to proof-texting Scripture in an attempt to justify sweet treats! There are at least a couple of Proverbs that come to mind: "Eat honey, my son, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste." (Proverbs 24:13). I almost hear an imperative in that, "Eat honey! The honey comb is even better!" It is easy to apply this to chocolate, "Eat chocolate! Eat a whole bag of M&M's too!" See the liberties I take in making my point! However, there is a helpful warning about sweets in another Proverb, "When you're given a box of candy, don't gulp it down; eat too much chocolate and you'll make yourself sick!" (Proverbs 25:16, MSG). Good to know!

The MJK's have developed a habit of eating a little chocolate after our main meal of the day. This practice started during the Pandemic as a means of lifting our spirits. I realize that I am making excuses again, but we have kept it up even as other restrictions are being lifted! We now understand that there is a "medicinal value" in chocolate! Monique is quick to remind me that it has to be dark chocolate though! 

As I share the daily doses or should I say, "serve the treat to the Mrs." of the family, I have tried to amuse her on occasions with an occasional artistic creation. Sometimes her dessert plate has a numeral in the middle of it, meaning, "You're number one with me!" Other times I try to go with a more abstract design using my favorite geometric shape, the triangle or some such less identified shape! Then, when I really channel my inner architect, I attempt something three-dimensional. That's when I strategically balance M&M's upon each other until the sweet treats are stacked above the plane even if only minimally so!

You can see that I am crazy about M&M's and about our family of MJK's as well! Join me in finding ways each day to celebrate your love for your loved ones! They are God's gift to you! Happy 49th Anniversary, Honey!!

Mike Keppler, retired pastor,
active churchman and
doting grandparent. 
Contact: drmjkeppler@gmail.com 


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