Grace Life Fellowship

            Southerners are famous for our use of affectionate nicknames. There probably aren’t too many people in the South who don’t have a friend or family member they call Bubba, Sis, Boo, or Bee. But in Louisiana you just might hear another term of endearment, one unique to our state—the word chere.

Chere is most often heard in French-speaking parts of Louisiana. Cajuns have long used the word to address family members or other loved ones, especially children. Calling someone chere, (pronounced “sha,” as in “shack,” without the final consonant), is like saying “sweetheart” or “darling.” For example, a grandmother might lovingly pull her grandchild toward her, saying, “Come here, chere, and give me a kiss!”

Though the word was originally used when communicating with someone of close relationship, even casual acquaintances may be identified by chere. The word has often been heard in the south Louisiana stores, where an owner might tell you goodbye and show his appreciation for you and for your business with a good-natured “Thanks for shopping with us, chere!”

The word chere originated with the French verb cherir, meaning to cherish, and is related to a Latin word meaning beloved, high-priced, or costly. Chere is a term that implies tenderness, protectiveness, acceptance, affection, and some level of connection or intimacy with the addressee. It implies an object that is treasured or highly prized.

On a spiritual level, couldn’t we say that we are chere to our Father? We are His beloved and the ones who receive His great affection and acceptance in Christ. The apostle Paul even wrote in Ephesians that Jesus cherishes us who comprise His church.  

 In writing to the Thessalonians, Paul used a term meaning much the same thing as chere. He said, “…having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us” (1 Thessalonians 2:8). Paul had shared the gospel with the Thessalonians, but beyond that, he had come to cherish them. Their lives had become intertwined. To Paul, the sharing of the gospel wasn’t a matter of words only, but of sharing life together.

 In 1 Thessalonians 2:7 and 2:11-12, Paul described his demeanor toward that church by using the image of parents who cherish their children. He wrote, “We were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children…we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God.” The picture is of Paul’s tender parental mercy and affection, which, of course, had its source in Christ.

Mutual sharing of life, the use of terms of endearment, and the enjoyment of the beloved’s affection—these characterize life with Jesus. In other words, He is my chere and I am His. We live life together, each cherishing the other. My ability to cherish both comes from Him and is a response to His love for me.