Your Gifts To Each Other
Sermon
THIS NEW LIFE TOGETHER
An Anthology Of Wedding Meditations
I love weddings! I love everything about them. I enjoy the counselling with new couples, the wedding rehearsal, the joy and the love that fills a sanctuary during a wedding service. I enjoy the pomp and circumstance of the wedding service, but most of all I think I like the wedding reception best, and one part in particular - the opening of the wedding gifts. I love watching the faces of this new couple as they unwrap the gifts. Big and small each carries a message of love and hope for the new couple. And I can't think about wedding gifts without remembering a story shared with me about Grandma's gift to the new young couple.
The honeymoon is over. The groom had left for work when there was a knock at the door. The young bride opened the door to discover Grandma's aged but friendly face. With a smile she announced, ''I am bringing you a wedding present.''
But instead of offering the young woman a package, the elderly woman stepped into the house and said: ''Come on. I want to show you how to make an apple pie.'' Now you need to understand that Grandma's apple pie was heavenly. She had a way to make a pie crust that was so light and flaky it practically floated, and she added some secret ingredient to the filling (that she would never reveal) that made her apple pies melt in your mouth. The young bride could barely believe that Grandma was showing her how to make her extra--special apple pie. It took some time to get the job done but finally she learned all of Grandma's secrets.
''Now,'' said the older woman, ''I want you to iron one of your husband's shirts.'' The poor bride had to iron the same shirt six times before the elderly woman was satisfied. But finally she got it. Grandma prepared to leave. The bride, not understanding, said, ''But where is my present, Grandma?'' The old lady laughed: ''Why, __________, I have been giving it to you all morning.''
__________ and __________ you will receive many gifts today, but the most important gifts you will receive will not come in wrapping paper. You see, Grandma understood that the most important gifts given in a marriage are the ones given after the honeymoon has ended, the day--to--day gifts of sharing a life together. Oh, certainly Grandma's gift had an old--fashioned flavor to it but there are certain gifts that you can only give to one another ... and they will make or break your marriage.
Ephesians 5:33 says, ''Husbands love your wives as yourself, and wives respect your husbands.'' Give to one another the gift of respect. Respect one another's opinions. Honor one another's emotional highs and lows. Support one another. Encourage each other. Cherish one another's company and above all love one another as you love yourself. Give these gifts to one another daily and your marriage will be blessed. Amen.
Ronald K. Brooks is pastor of the Lawrence United Methodist Church, Lawrence, Michigan.
The honeymoon is over. The groom had left for work when there was a knock at the door. The young bride opened the door to discover Grandma's aged but friendly face. With a smile she announced, ''I am bringing you a wedding present.''
But instead of offering the young woman a package, the elderly woman stepped into the house and said: ''Come on. I want to show you how to make an apple pie.'' Now you need to understand that Grandma's apple pie was heavenly. She had a way to make a pie crust that was so light and flaky it practically floated, and she added some secret ingredient to the filling (that she would never reveal) that made her apple pies melt in your mouth. The young bride could barely believe that Grandma was showing her how to make her extra--special apple pie. It took some time to get the job done but finally she learned all of Grandma's secrets.
''Now,'' said the older woman, ''I want you to iron one of your husband's shirts.'' The poor bride had to iron the same shirt six times before the elderly woman was satisfied. But finally she got it. Grandma prepared to leave. The bride, not understanding, said, ''But where is my present, Grandma?'' The old lady laughed: ''Why, __________, I have been giving it to you all morning.''
__________ and __________ you will receive many gifts today, but the most important gifts you will receive will not come in wrapping paper. You see, Grandma understood that the most important gifts given in a marriage are the ones given after the honeymoon has ended, the day--to--day gifts of sharing a life together. Oh, certainly Grandma's gift had an old--fashioned flavor to it but there are certain gifts that you can only give to one another ... and they will make or break your marriage.
Ephesians 5:33 says, ''Husbands love your wives as yourself, and wives respect your husbands.'' Give to one another the gift of respect. Respect one another's opinions. Honor one another's emotional highs and lows. Support one another. Encourage each other. Cherish one another's company and above all love one another as you love yourself. Give these gifts to one another daily and your marriage will be blessed. Amen.
Ronald K. Brooks is pastor of the Lawrence United Methodist Church, Lawrence, Michigan.
