I have an insatiable sweet tooth. Stevie Wonder wrote in a song, “Everybody’s got a certain weakness in life.” Desserts just happen to be mine, especially, chocolate chip cookies and red velvet cake. Back in my hometown of New Orleans, my grandmother Minerva, now in heaven, made sure I had my fill of the latter as in this inviting image.
A Savory Parental Advisory
Growing up, parents warned us against fullness with phrases like “Don’t spoil your dinner” and “Save your dessert for last”. Saving dessert is a social tradition dating back to medieval times when hosts kept the most decadent foods for special occasions and until the end of a meal. Physically, experts say making dessert the final course helps cleanse the mouth’s palate and fully savor its sweetness.
Earlier, I mentioned one of my go-to goodies is chocolate-chip cookies. As a vegan, I often bake my own using non-dairy ingredients. When I buy off the shelf, my top brand is Enjoy Life! Like the cookie maker, I’m indeed enjoying life as I just bought a new house! A few days ago, I painted the walls in what will be my reading room. To celebrate a job well done (at least I think so – check out the photo below, and see for yourself), I reserved some Enjoy Life delights.
A Plate for Adult Tastes
After a shower, I sprinted downstairs to the kitchen to get my reward, relaxed on my comfortable couch, began perusing YouTube, and heard melodies so scrumptious to this music connoisseur’s ears. The treat was a song by teen K-Pop sensation, NewJeans, and ironically the track is titled “Cookie”.
The music? Incredible! A wonderful homage to 1990s-2000s R&B, my lane! The video? Fire! A gorgeously shot performance piece! The vocals? Euphonious! They have beautiful tones and great control! The choreography? Lit! And these girls can dance! The best dance part is a sequence the ladies perform sitting on a bench! The lyrics? WHOA! Have you ever listened to the words of a song and made the “Is that what I thought I heard” face? I did this after just a small sampling:
Made a little cookie
Baked it just for you
But you know that it ain’t for free
Made a little cookie
It’s too soft, can’t stop thinking about it
With chocolate chips, you know
I wanna sprinkle all over
I want to make you lose your appetite
I’m hiding it, but I want to see you more
If you want it, you can get it, if you want it
Let me hear your voice again, boy
Preventing Unintended Consequences
If I hadn’t been familiar with their backgrounds already, my first question would be, “Uh, how old are you?” While the members and their manager contend the tune is simply a musical concoction to celebrate the actual confection, they couldn’t have anticipated the double entendres perceived by American listeners. In the United States, “cookie” is slang for a woman’s genitalia.
Regarding access to that part of the female anatomy, I do resonate with the line “It ain’t for free”. Sex is a privilege and culmination of a marriage commitment between a husband and wife. God led the Apostle Paul to write, “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication (1 Thessalonians 4:3).” By definition, fornication is sexual intercourse between two people who aren’t married to each other.
In God’s design, marriage is the appropriate framework in which He sanctions sexual expression. He prompted the writer of Hebrews to pen that “marriage is to be held in honor among all [that is, regarded as something of great value], and the marriage bed undefiled [by immorality or by any sexual sin]; for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous (Hebrews 13:4).”
A Wise Recipe for Husbands and Wives To Be
A fellow contributor to scripture, King Solomon experienced the pitfalls of promiscuity. As a result, he had a frank “birds and the bees” talk with his son in Proverbs 5:15-19, “Drink water from your own well— share your love only with your wife. Why spill the water of your springs in the streets, having sex with just anyone? You should reserve it for yourselves. Never share it with strangers. Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. She is a loving deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you always be captivated by her love.”
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, to captivate is to influence and dominate with irresistible appeal. God desires that His influence be at the center of a dating relationship and both people follow His recipe for a marriage that’ll endure for life and serves as an undeniable mark of His bond with the church (Ephesians 5:31-32).
A Baked-In Blessing
To my fellow singles who want God’s blessing over their love lives, the best “desserts” take time to make. Don’t stir up love until the time is right (Song of Song 2:7). It’ll be worth the wait, and the years with your marriage mate will be sweeter.
Do yourself and your future partner a favor. Savor the best for last.
Sources:
Song: “Weakness” by Stevie Wonder and Dionne Warwick
Article: “Why Do We Eat Dessert Last?” by Francis, published November 19, 2022
Website: Enjoy Life Foods
Website: “NewJeans Members Profile and Facts”
Video (Song): “Cookie” by NewJeans
Video: “NewJeans Introducing Baked Cookies for Fans”
Article: “NewJeans’ label ADOR responds to criticism of “sexual” lyrics in ‘Cookie’ with extensive statement” by Gladys Yeo, published August 29, 2022
Article: “What Does COOKIE Mean?” Cyber Definitions
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:3 (King James Version)
Scripture: Hebrews 13:4 (Amplified Bible)
Scripture: Proverbs 5:15-19
Scripture: Ephesians 5:31-32
Scripture: Song of Songs 2:7
Scripture references are from the New Living Translation except where noted. Their links go to bible.com, courtesy of YouVersion, makers of the Bible App available for iOS and Android devices.
