She cancelled on me.

In case you didn’t know, I double heart loooooove me some Jeni’s Ice Cream.  I mean, I love ice cream in general.  It’s one of my favorite foods, but Jeni’s ice cream is particularly delicious.  Maybe it’s because they use all natural ingredients and their cream comes from grass-fed, happy cows.  Or maybe it’s because owner, Jeni, is a foodie and therefore designs unique and amazing flavors that make entering her shop a new adventure every season.  Whatever the reason, it’s safe to say that I am a Jeni’s fan girl. 

I always find excuses to go to Jeni’s.  If you have been promoted at work or if you just got an A on a really hard test or if you had a terrible day or if you just got your braces tightened or if it’s your half birthday or if you are visiting from out of town, chances are, I’ll suggest we go to Jeni’s to cope/celebrate.

And ESPECIALLY if you have never tried Jeni’s Ice Cream, I will drag you there by your hair and chat you up while we wait in line.  I’ll tell you that you should taste-test every flavor (they let you do that).  And I’ll explain that the little ice cream server people will tell you about how each flavor is made and that it has “notes of lemon” or that it’s “well-balanced” and what other flavor you should pair it with.  They are like sommeliers of the ice cream world!

And if “fancy” ice cream flavors “aren’t your thing” I will forgive you for just ordering plain old vanilla or chocolate.  But, I will give you a really hard time about it and I would call you boring except that even the classic flavors of chocolate and vanilla are especially good at Jeni’s.  This stuff will make your mouth happy, I promise! 

Here’s what’s disappointing: when someone doesn’t love Jeni’s.  I mean, you don’t have to love it like I do (with border-line crazy amounts of affection for ice cream), but I would be so happy if you at least nod your head and agree that it is somewhat delicious. 

Last week, I discovered that my dear friend, Lissa, had never tried Jeni’s.  WHAT????  (If you’ve ever been around me, you can imagine the level of volume and surprise in my voice).  Lissa is a native Nashvillian, and she lives less than five miles from Jeni’s, and she drives by it often, and she’s not allergic to dairy but she’s still never tried it. 

I was in shock.

After I recovered, I immediately chose a date on which to take her to my all-time-favorite place.  I could hardly wait to take her there and not just because I love an excuse to eat Jeni’s, but because I love Lissa so much.  Everyone loves her and if you met her, you would love her too.  She’s the perfect amount of crazy, fun, funny, energetic, gorgeous, hard-working, charming, encouraging, cheerful, brilliant, and real.  She’s a breast cancer survivor who has decided to live life to it’s fullest.  She’s a fireball of an individual, a busy mom of three, PTO president, volunteer extraordinaire, and a dear, dear friend.  I cannot say enough good things about this person.  She has a sincerely dear heart and makes everyone around her feel better about being alive. 

(Just like Ice Cream.)

Anyway, when you love someone the way I love Lissa, you want them to have every good thing come their way.  That’s why I was so excited to introduce her to the wonderful cold treat that is Jeni’s ice cream.

And then, she cancelled on me.

After teasing her about her decision to delay her Jeni’s experience, I promised her a rain check.

But, I was more than a little disappointed with the delay.  I mean, I was so looking forward to watching her experience the deliciousness!

I know what you are thinking, you are thinking that there is always a chance that she won’t like it as much as I want her to like it and that I’ve built it up too much.  And, you know you’re right, there is that chance.  But, it’s worth the risk because there is also a chance that she’ll love it as much as I do and then we will have shared joy and mutual affection which is sort of an indescribable feeling.

There are two main reasons I want to share Jeni’s with people. 

1.  I believe it is quality ice cream. 

2.  I truly love it. 

Why else would you encourage people to try something?  You have to believe in it and you have to love it. 

I have this other friend, I’ll call her, Shelly, and Shelly is also an amazing person and friend.  She’s adventurous, intelligent, fun, encouraging, hard-working and kind.  When I met her, we became friends instantly.  I love that Shelly is principled, yet up to try anything.  She’s strong, funny, and friendly to everyone.  I consider her to be one of my closest friends and that’s why I am dying to introduce her to something (or rather someone) I believe in and truly love.  You see, Shelly has tried Jeni’s, (and she loved it, thank goodness), but she’s not tried Jesus. 

I think she’s heard a little about Him—but I think she’s heard some incorrect information.  I’m hoping to be able to share some truth with her one day or over time.  I’m hoping that she’ll taste and see that the Lord is good.  

But, there is a chance that she won’t like Him in the same way I do.  She may decide that she can’t trust Him with her heart. (And that thought brings choking sobs to my throat.)  But, it’s worth the risk, because there is also a chance that she’ll open her heart and receive His love and then we will have shared joy and mutual affection, which is sort of an indescribable feeling.  And not only that, we will have life: full and eternal.    

This is my hope for Shelly and for so many dear friends who haven't experienced Jesus--who haven't tasted true love.