What's Up in Sherrice's World?

Part III of the Dena and Mr. Chocolate Dream Love Story

As Mr. Chocolate Dream stood in the doorway, Dena immediately wanted to slap him for being an hour late. Instead of giving way to her emotions, she took a deep breath and responded to his greeting.

“Hello. I was just getting ready to go out with some friends since you were not here yet,” said Dena.

“Oh really? Well, I would be so disappointed if my tardiness caused me to lose an opportunity with you, mighty woman of god,” said Mr. Chocolate Dream. As he spoke, he displayed that Colgate smile that would make a cold hearted woman blush.

“So, Dena, are you still up to going out with me,” asked Mr. Chocolate Dream.

Dena was shocked by his forthcoming attitude and shouted, “Excuse me? You must be kidding. You are an hour late.”

“Well, Dena,” said Mr. Chocolate Dream, “would you allow me to share an explanation with you?”

“Since cell phones were created, people have been able to reach out and touch. I’m not sure why you did not call. What is your explanation?”

Mr. Chocolate Dream tilted his shoulder and flashed that winning smile that gets here every time. Then suddenly, he whips out a piece of paper and hands it to Dana. Dena graciously accepts and notices that it was from the police department. Lo and behold, it was a speeding ticket. Suddenly, the words on the paper became the explanation. After all the hesitation and anticipation, now there is finally an explanation.

“I guess I have a date tonight,” thought Dena.

“So, where are we going?” Dena asks Mr. Chocolate Dream

“Let me surprise you,” he responds.

“Sounds like a plan to me,” says Dana.

“Great! I have been looking forward to this all week,” says Mr. Chocolate Dream.

As they walk outside, Mr. Chocolate Dream opens the passenger door to a metallic blue Mercedes Benz. Dena is impressed by his car and decides to get in. The interior of the car is immaculent, with one exception. There are red stains on the seat.

“Wait a minute,” Dena thought, “that looks like blood. I need a serious explanation or I am out of here.”

Part II of the Dena and Mr. Chocolate Dream Love Story

God is smiling on Dena today. As she prepares for her date with Mr. Chocolate Dream, she savors the idea of him for a brief moment.

“Aaahhhh. Anticipation!” Dena said aloud. She was so nervous, excited, and giddy, all at the same time. What will he wear? What will he say? What will he do? Will he be wearing cologne?

“Maybe, just maybe, he will be so impressed with my love for the Lord that he will ask me out again,” Dena thought.

Dena sat on her pink exercise ball in her walk-in closet as she anticipated what to wear for this hot date. He seemed like the conservative, corporate America type, so she wanted to be sure not to over or under dress for the occasion. She anticipated the possibility of running into some of his clients. For the past few weeks, Dena had several conversations via telephone with him. He was a financial analyst at a well-known fund house. Mutual funds were his specialty, specifically hedge funds. The way he talked about hedge funds was so intriguing and exciting to Dena so she contacted her financial adviser to make a few investments. It couldn’t hurt. Mr. Chocolate Dream surely had to know what he was talking about. Right?

No matter how many times Dena looked through the closet, she was not able to find the perfect outfit. The anticipation was so thick in the atmosphere and her vision was clouded. Never experiencing this before, Dena was not sure what to do. Then she remembered her mother’s favorite saying, “When all else fails, baby, pray.” Dena’s mother taught her to pray about things that other people may have found strange. Her mother was a saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost Christian. If her thoughts were not influenced by the Word of God, she immediately checked herself and made an adjustment. Taking her mother’s advice, Dena began to pray.

“Lord, I want to thank you for leading Mr. Chocolate Dream to me. You know how excited I am about this date and I want to make the right impression. The impression that represents you. So, Lord, please help me to find something in this closet that is simple, yet classy. Practical, yet sophisticated. Easy to wear, yet complex enough to make Mr. Chocolate Dream want to get to know me better. In your name Jesus, I pray, Amen.”
After the quick prayer, Dena closed her eyes to wait on the Lord for a response. After about fifteen minutes, the Lord led Dena to open her eyes. Lo and behold, there was the perfect sundress and short jacket hanging on the rack to her right.

“Wow! The answer was right in front of my face the whole time. How did I miss it,” thought Dena. She grabbed the clothing and began to prepare for her date. Once she was finished, Dena took a long look at herself in the mirror. This dress was handpicked by the Lord and it was so perfect. With matching accessories, a classy hairstyle, and impeccable make-up, Dena was ready to go. She ventured downstairs to wait for Mr. Chocolate Dream. He promised to arrive at 7:30 pm. It was not 7:15 and Dena was waiting, hoping, and wishing he was there now. She is definitely anticipating his arrival.

An hour has passed and Mr. Chocolate Dream has not shown up. “I wonder if he’s okay. Was he in a car accident? Did he get mugged? I know it has to be something drastic, because he does not seem like the type who would invite me on a date and stand me up.” Dena sat by the window, looking out in anticipation. Then suddenly, she realized that he was not coming. So, she went upstairs, with the idea of undressing while sulking in her misery. Her mother’s words came back to her so she began to pray for Mr. Chocolate Dream. He was the Lord’s child, too, so he needed prayer just like anyone else.

“Lord, Mr. Chocolate Dream is not here yet and I am ready to tell him a few things about himself. I do, however, want to represent you in this conversation. Lord, please give me the right words to say. If he has been held up by a serious issue, Lord, resolve it so that he can be safe AND redeem his standing with me. Help me to forgive and show unconditional love, even if I have to kick him to the curb. In your name, Jesus, I pray, Amen.” Just as Dena finished her prayer, the doorbell rang. Dena sauntered down the stairs with anticipation. When she looked through the peep hole, she saw none other than Mr. Chocolate Dream.

She opened the door to be greeted by her handsome suitor. “Hello, beautiful woman of God,” he said, and she melted right there in the doorway. As Dena recovered, she thought, “Should I tell him where to go, or ask him where we are going? Hmmmmmm. How should I handle this?”

As Dena sat in the cafe, she saw Mr. Chocolate Dream. He was tall, dark, handsome, muscular…a beautiful specimen of man. She needed to be close to him and get to know him, yet time and space alluded her attempts. He smiled, she smiled. He spoke, she tried to speak and Hesitation stood in her way. She felt too weak to fight him so she took a swig of coffee. Why does this always happen? Hesitation loomed over Dena’s opportunities like a heavy cloud on a stormy day. Hesitation had stopped her from getting what she wanted every since she could remember. It was almost as if Hesitation was a spirit that was sent to intentionally block Dena’s progress. Today, Hesitation was stopping her from meeting the man of her dreams and she was letting him be victorious.

Last week, Hesitation had stopped her from applying for a new position. Last year,she allowed him to separate her from the exceeds category on her annual performance review. Hesitation took residence in Dena’s life and prevents her from excelling. Where did he come from? Has he always been here? Or is he a figment of my imagination? Strangely, Hesitation is so familiar to Dena lets him stay. He is the friend she loves to hate. Slowly, surely, he had taken over her desire to pursue her dreams.

“Oh no, my chocolate dream is walking out of the cafe, ” thought Dena.

She quickly ran to the door and just as she was about to open her mouth to say, “Hello,” Hesitation stopped her.

“Wait a minute,” thought Dena, “Mr. Chocolate Dream has a Bible in his hand.”

“Hesitation! I bind you in the name of Jesus. I bind the spirit of fear that is the strongman. I loose holy boldness in your place,” shouted Dena in her spirit.

Suddenly, Mr. Chocolate Dream stopped in his tracks, turned, and made eye contact with her. She opened her mouth to say, “Hello,” and for the first time ever, Hesitation was not there to stop her. Now, happily ever after can begin.