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Thursday, June 18, 2020 - Join Pastor John for a Daily Devotional

June 18, 2020 by Rev. John Hartman

“Cherish”

I just love the word “cherish.” Some of you may remember a love song back in the 1960’s by The Association called simply, “Cherish.” Part of the song goes, “Cherish is the word I use to describe All the feeling that I have hiding here for you inside. You don't know how many times I've wished that I had told you. You don't know how many times I've wished that I could hold you. You don't know how many times I've wished that I could Mold you into someone who could. Cherish me as much as I cherish you. And I do... cherish you. And I do... cherish you.”

You see, more than just love, cherish is like love at the penthouse level in the Ritz Carlton Hotel. Cherish is love that pampers, treasures, celebrates, and goes above and beyond reasonable expectations. Great marriages happen when couples fulfill their vows on their wedding day that include, “to love and to cherish as long as we both shall live.”

Back on Saturday, May 30, I have the privilege of officiating at the wedding of Cole Martin and Colleen Andrews. It was a gorgeous day weather-wise, and we had a wonderful backyard service with just family, as Cole and Colleen exchanged vows and rings and became husband and wife. The scripture readings were from Proverbs, and I Corinthians 13, the Apostle Paul’s great love chapter. Now, the word “cherish” does not appear in all those descriptions that Paul uses to describe love, -- “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude . . .” The reality is, none of those things rise to the level of God’s standards if you don’t cherish the other. Having met with Cole and Colleen together beginning last year, I can see that they really do cherish each other and of course, wish them all the best in their married life together.

Believe it or not, cherishing is so important and so challenging it needs to begin even before we meet the person we marry. Just a few generations ago in courtship, we had elaborate rituals for cherishing and treasuring women. In polite society our grandfathers came a-courtin’ and a wooin’, calling at the homes of our grandmothers. Under conditions set by the woman, who operated from the strength of being on her own turf, courting took place under the watchful eye of her parents. Later came dating where the couple went out, which was a little more on the man’s turf, though still shrouded in rituals of courtship. Then young people would go off to college having a mindset of meeting that special someone they would like to share their whole life with. I know that I probably sound like an old fossil in talking this way, because things have sure changed a whole bunch.

Many of you have had a whole lot of “together time” in your homes for the past few months. How is that cherishing going for you? Cherishing is hard. Cherishing gets tested. Cherishing gets pulled and stretched in different directions. This is true even when it’s blue skies above, and everyone is in love. Factor in a few unexpected wrinkles like a pandemic, job stress, or job loss, and cherishing has all the feeling of cold pizza. Friends, keep cherishing the person God has put in your life. Even though it may be really hard at times, love the person that God has placed in your life.

Don’t mean to leave you all teary today, but as I close, I do want to share with you my favorite definition of love. It comes from the British novelist, Brian Moore. He says, “Love? I’ll tell you what love is. It’s each of you in your nineties, each listening for the other’s step in the next room. Afraid a sudden silence, or a sudden cry, could mean a lifetime’s talk is over.”