A Word from Our Pastor 2019 February | Berkeley Methodist United Church

What happens when we forget sacrificial love…

I feel like it’s been raining weddings this year! First, we had Chai and Callie and then Naomi and Stephen, and then by the time you read this my daughter will have had her wedding. Plus, my youngest sister Nicole is getting married later this year!!! I feel so blessed to bear witness to the love of God reflected in so many people. As Cassie and I are approaching 17 years of marriage this year, this little ditty was funny because it has a grain of truth to it. I found it on the Internet a number of years ago, but it’s still poignant and funny. As the years pass by in our marriage some of it sounds a bit familiar. But the overall lesson is what’s important; when we forget that love is meant to be mutually sacrificial, our relationships can evolve (or devolve) like this.

My daughter Evelyn and her new husband Clinton!

So, in your 1st year of marriage, your loving wife gets sick, and you say with all sincerity – “Oh, sweetie pie, I’m really worried about those nasty sniffles you have! There’s no telling what that could turn into with all the strep that’s been going around. I’m going to take you right down to the hospital and have you admitted for a couple days of rest. I know the food is lousy there, so I’m going to bring you some takeout from your favorite restaurant. I’ve already arranged it with the head nurse.”

In your 2nd year of marriage, you show much loving concern – “Listen, honey, I don’t like the sound of that cough. I called the doc and he’s going to stop by here and take a look at you. Why don’t you just go on to bed and get the rest you need?”

In the 3rd year, you say – “Maybe you better go lie down, darling. When you feel lousy you need the rest. I’ll bring you something. Do we have any canned soup around here?”C

By the 4th year, you say with love – “No sense wearing yourself out when you’re under the weather. When you finish those dishes and the kids’ baths and get them to bed, you ought to go to bed yourself!”

5th year – “Why don’t you take a couple aspirin?”

6th year – “You ought to go gargle or something, instead of sitting around barking like a dog!”

And by the 7th year, you turn to your loving wife who’s ill and say – “For Pete’s sake, stop sneezing. Are you trying to give me pneumonia? You’d better pick up some tissues while you’re at the store.”