The Stash of Chocolate

As part of my parents’ efforts to teach us kids emergency preparedness and food storage, my dad sometimes bought large boxes of food. He said that if the prediction was true that one day a bushel of wheat would be worth its weight in gold, then imagine how much a box of chocolate bars will be worth?

So in addition to wheat and soups and ketchup, large boxes of chocolate bars were secured in the back corner of the food storage room.

A feeling of satisfaction and peace of mind comes from having enough for your needs and more put away for a rainy day…

… so long as your stash is secure.

Some time later, my dad found himself in charge of providing the s’mores supplies for a campout with a big group of boys and dads. He knew he could do it, no problem. He went to get some chocolate bars from his large supply, only to find it… gone.

An investigation ensued.

My sisters’ bedrooms happened to be near the foodstorage room. The chocolate stash had been discovered. In the dark of night it had been smuggled out and enjoyed, one bar at a time. Other siblings had found wrappers under beds and caught wind of the chocolate trafficking. They had been paid off (in chocolate) to keep quiet. And now, the bars of future gold, were gone.

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I admit to having visited the food storage room myself from time to time for a little chocolate.

My mother said that while she was growing up, she knew that her mom always kept a stash of chocolate chips. After finding it a few times, my mom said the stash was moved and despite extensive searches, it could not be found again.

My Grandma Sue was an elementary school teacher and has always impressed us with her understanding of the human psyche.

Only after her kids were grown was her secret revealed: Grandma Sue kept her chocolate chips in the freezer, in an empty bag for Frozen Peas. As a teenager my mom had lifted that bag more than once and moved it out of the way while searching the freezer for the chocolate chips.

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In the past year worldwide interest in food storage (and toilet paper storage) has grown. The principles of self-reliance and preparedness are coming into focus.

I like these new resources for developing Self-Reliance in finances and emotional resiliance.

We are all learning to ask ourselves: “How prepared am I for future shortages and future challenges?” And like my dad’s chocolate, “How reliable is my stored supply?”

The most important preparation for the future is building our faith and connection to Jesus Christ. I find myself needing reminders to not put my trust in finances, in systems, or in myself, but rather in Him. Life has a lot to work on and worry about. But Jesus Christ invites us to come unto Him, to seek first the Kingdom of God, and to trust that all other things will be added to us.