When I was seventeen years old, my mom gave me a box of chocolates. The movie Forrest Gump had just come out in theaters and it had made quite an impact in my young life. Gump wisdom or “gumpisms” hadn’t yet been coined, but nevertheless, Forrest and my wise mother showed me how to cope with disappointment.
“Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.”
Forrest Gump
What does that even mean and how can it give us hope?
Wisdom in Chocolate
In my opinion, chocolate makes everything better, especially a beautiful box with mysterious “pillows of sweetness” tucked inside. You may not bite into your favorite piece at first, in fact, you might spit a few into the trash if you’re a particular-chocolate-eater like I am, but I’ve never turn down chocolate.
The point is that in every box of chocolates there will be a few irresistibly wonderful pieces, bites of goodness that will blow your mind. Oftentimes, those tasty morsels are sandwiched between some less-than-desirable mouthfuls. Maybe even downright disappointing.
That’s life in a nutshell, or should I say… that’s life in a box of chocolates.
How to Cope with Disappointment
Keep your perspective positive. Naturally it’s easier to fixate on the negative. On the number of chocolates in the trash rather than the deliciously dark chocolate cream that delighted your senses last night or last year. Disappointment will fade with time and better chocolate-y experiences will make their way into your life.
Believe that God has a future planned for you. A good future filled with good things. Even a good life has some not-so-good moments, moments of heartache, pain, and failure. I daresay that those disappointing moments define who we are, they give us clarity to live with hope for the future.
Why not give someone a box of chocolates? A friend or family member who might be trying to cope with disappointment.
An assorted box of chocolate might be the wisdom that they need.
Much Love,
Wendi
**To watch the live video that inspired this post, visit my YouTube channel or turn to chapter 38 of A Prairie Devotional.
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