Crunchy on the Outside. Strange Piece of Paper on the Inside

Years ago a friend of mine took her little daughter to a Chinese restaurant and asked how she liked the fortune cookie at the end of the meal. “Well . . . ,” her daughter said, “it doesn’t taste like much. And the paper inside it is kind of strange, too.”

Growing up in the provinces as I did, I always thought that food with paper inside was the special charism of the Chinese, but I was wrong.

It is also the charism of a confectionary company called O Sweet Jesus.

They make candy with Scripture verses inside. “Each piece comes with a Scripture message just for you!”

So if yours says, for example, “Remember what Amalek did to you on your journey out of Egypt,” you’d better watch out. Think you don’t know somebody named Amalek? Never been to Egypt? Think again . . . these things don’t lie.

These candies come in various assortments and gift packagings, including some Holy Week specials I’m a little sorry I missed.

We always give up candy for Lent, but if these are really penitential . . .

Well, I’ve got a whole year to think about it. Pass me one of those

Heavenly Rewards.