195 Sermon Illustrations on Commitment

“...let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24)

Speaking to a group of college students, a missionary told of his experiences on a foreign field. He said that a day never went by that he wasn’t jeered as he preached the gospel on street corners. During religious holidays and festivals, vendors would be out selling religious artifacts and crosses. Hawking their wares, they would cry out, “Crosses! Cheap crosses for sale!“

The missionary then challenged the students: “What about your cross? Is the cross you bear for the sake of our Lord only a cheap cross?”

1. The Master has come, and he calls us to follow

The track of the footprints He leaves on our way;

Far over the mountain and through the deep hollow

The path leads us onto the mansions of day.

The Master has called us, the children who fear Him,

Who march ‘neath Christ’s banner, His own little band:

We love Him and seek Him, we long to be near Him,

And rest in the light of His beautiful land.

2. The Master has called us – the road may be dreary,

And dangers and sorrows are strewn on the track;

But God’s Holy Spirit shall comfort the weary –

We follow the Saviour and cannot turn back.

The Master has called us – though doubt and temptation

May compass our journey, we cheerfully sing:

“Press onward, look upward – through much tribulation

The children of Zion must follow their King.”

3. The Master has called us in life’s early morning,

With spirits as fresh as the dew on the sod;

We turn from the world with its smiles and its scorning

To cast in our lot with the people of God.

The Master has called us, His sons and His daughters,

We plead for His blessing and trust in His love:

And through the green pastures, beside the still waters,

He’ll lead us at last to His kingdom above.

[Tune “Ash Grove”]

*

Robert Chesebrough believed in his product. He's the fellow who invented Vaseline, a petroleum jelly refined from rod wax, the ooze that forms on shafts of oil rigs. He so believed in the healing properties of his product that he became his own guinea pig. He burned himself with acid and flame; he cut and scratched himself so often and so deeply that he bore the scars of his tests the rest of his life. But he proved his product worked. People had only to look at his wounds, now healed, to see the value of his work-and the extent of his belief.

(Commitment, Evidence)

Larson, Illustrations, 8

During the Civil War in America, three Northern officers were appointed on a commission with three Southern officers, after the battle of Prairie Grove, to negotiate an exchange of prisoners. While the commission was sitting, an aged farmer strayed into the room, thinking it was the provost's office. His eyes were dim but he quickly noticed the uniforms, and supposing himself in the presence of the Northern staff, began protesting his loyalty to the Union. One of the officers facetiously advised him to be cautious and, pointing to the Southern officers, told him to look at them. The old man put on his spectacles and, recognizing the uniforms, explained that his heart was with the South in the great struggle and that his only son was a soldier in the Southern army.

Gazing around the room, he recognized the Northern uniforms also and was bewildered. At last, he leaned both hands on the table and, surveying the entire party, he said: "Well, gentleman, this is a little mixed; but you just go on and fight it out among yourselves. I can live under any government."

-- Christian Herald

Commitment is viewed negatively because it limits our ability to feel independent and free, to experience new things, to change our minds on the spur of the moment and to focus on self-gradification rather than helping others. People willingly make commitments only when the expected outcome exceeds what they must sacrifice as a result of that commitment.

- George Barna, {The Frog in the Kettle} (Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 1990), 35.

Many years ago a highly privileged young man named William Borden went out from Yale University to serve God and humanity in Egypt [Holwick: his ultimate goal was Muslims in China]. While still young, he fell ill and died. On his gravestone in Cairo are the words, "Apart from Christ there is no explanation of such a life."

There are many in the world of whom something like this must be said. Some are great, some are obscure, but round them is an aura, an atmosphere, which marks them as not just of this world.

_________________

Samuel Shoemaker, The Power of God, (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1954), p. 17.

There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you are interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstances permit. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.

- Art Turock, Getting Physical (Doubleday)

{see #15005 for variant}

Commitment to God often comes in difficult circumstances. When death seemed so close to Delos Miles in a bunker in North Korea, he began to pray. As he lay on the ground, a Chinese soldier put a rifle to his head. Miles prayed something like this: "Lord, if you are all-powerful like I've always heard you are, you can bring me out of here alive. If you will save my life, I'll do anything you want me to do."

The soldier fired. Instead of going through Delos' head, the bullet went down across the right side of his head.

After 18 hours in that bunker pretending to be dead and 3 days and nights searching, Delos made it back to the First Marine Division. He now serves as Professor of Evangelism at Southeastern Bapist Theological Seminary.

- Rodney Navey, Proclaim

For complete story see Delos Miles, Introduction to Evangelism (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1983) 171-173

{see #15006 for variant}

A North Carolina jury ordered a man to pay $234,000 for stealing the love of another man's wife. The verdict was not about money, legal experts say. Instead, it's a way for a scorned spouse to send a message that cheating isn't fair or appropriate.

In August, another North Carolina jury awarded a jilted wife $1 million. North Carolina is one of the few states with alienation-of-affection laws still on the books. Most states abolished such laws when no-fault divorce laws became popular.

Said Scott Altman, law professor at the University of Southern California, "Even though fault-based divorce is abolished, most people still regard infidelity as wrong and feel terribly hurt by it. So for someone to want a remedy when they feel so aggrieved, and for a jury to be sympathetic, doesn't strike me as shocking."

--USA Today (9/19/97)

Submitted by: Rev Robert Morgan

Email address: bobm@maxinter.net

I saw you yesterday as you began your daily chores. You awoke without knelling to pray. As a matter of fact, you didn't even bless your meals, or pray before going to bed last night. You are so unfaithful, I like that about you. I cannot tell you how glad I am that you have not changed your way of living. Fool, you are mine.

Remember, you and I have been going steady for years, and I still don't love you yet. As a matter of fact, I hate you, because I hate God. I am only using you to get even with God. He kicked me out of heaven, and I'm going to use you as long as possible to pay him back. You see, Fool, God loves you and He has great plans in store for you. But you have yield your life to me, and I'm going to make your life a living hell. That way, we'll be together twice. This will really hurt God.

Thanks to you, I'm really showing Him who's boss in your life. With all of the good times we've had. We have been:

watching dirty movies

cursing people out

stealing

lying

being hypocritical

fornicating

telling dirty jokes

gambling

overeating

backstabbing people

No respect for the church

bad attitude

Surely you don't want to give all this up. Come on Fool, let's burn together forever. I've got some hot plans for us. This is just a letter of appreciation from me to you. I'd like to say "THANKS" for letting me use you for most of your foolish life. You are so gullible, I laugh at you. When you are tempted to sin, you give in HA HA HA, you make me sick. Sin is beginning to take its toll on your life. You look 20 years older, and now, I need new blood. So go ahead and teach some children how to sin. All you have to do is smoke, get drunk or drink while under-aged, cheat, gamble, gossip, fornicate, and live being as selfish as possible. Do all of this in the presence of children and they will do it too. Kids are like that

Well Fool, I have to let you go now. I'll be back in a couple of seconds to tempt you again. If you were smart you would run somewhere, confess your sins, and live for God with what little bit of life that you have left. It's not my nature to warn anyone, but to be your age and still sinning, it's becoming a bit ridiculous. Don't get me wrong, I still hate you. It's just that you make a better fool for Christ

P.S. And if you really love me, you wont share this letter with anyone.

1. I can hear my Savior calling,

I can hear my Savior calling,

I can hear my Savior calling,

“Take thy cross and follow, follow me.”

Chorus

Where He leads me I will follow,

Where He leads me I will follow,

Where He leads me I will follow;

I’ll go with Him, with Him all the way.

2. I’ll go with Him through the garden,

I’ll go with Him through the garden,

I’ll go with Him through the garden,

I’ll go with Him, with Him all the way.

3. I’ll go with Him through the judgment,

I’ll go with Him through the judgment,

I’ll go with Him through the judgment,

I’ll go with Him, with Him all the way.

4. He will give me grace and glory,

He will give me grace and glory,

He will give me grace and glory,

And go with me, with me all the way.

[Tune “Norris”]

*

Open our eyes, Lord,

we want to see Jesus,

to reach out and touch Him,

and say that we love Him.

Open our ears, Lord,

and help us to listen.

Open our eyes, Lord,

we want to see Jesus.

*

1. Breathe on me, Breath of God

Fill me with life anew,

That I may love what Thou dost love

And do what Thou wouldst do.

2. Breathe on me, Breath of God

Until my heart is pure,

Until with Thee I will one will —

To do and to endure.

3. Breathe on me, Breath of God

Till I am wholly Thine,

Till all this earthly part of me

Glows with Thy fire divine.

4. Breathe on me, Breath of God

So shall I never die,

But live with Thee the perfect life

Of Thine eternity.

[Tune “Trentham”]

*

Men who cohabit with the women they eventually marry are more reluctant to marry and, then, are less committed to their marriages, according to a recent study by the co-director of the Center for Marital and Family Studies at the University of Denver.

Women who are cohabiting "should be very careful about how aligned they are with a particular man if he does not show any strong sense of marriage and a future together," researcher Scott Stanley said in USA Today July 8.

Though his research reinforces the stereotype that men are more likely to move more slowly toward marriage than women, Stanley said his findings do not indicate an absence of "super men" who will be dedicated to their wives after cohabitation.

USA Today reported that more than 5 million unmarried American couples live together, and between 50 percent and 60 percent of new marriages now involve couples who have lived together first.

Many cohabiting couples say they want to live together in order to get a sense of what it would be like to be married to a particular person without the obligation of staying in the relationship if it does not work favorably. They also cite fears of divorce as reasons why they choose to live together rather than marry first.

Divorce is "just a huge issue for my generation," Rosanne Garfield, 28, of Arlington, Va., told USA Today. "My family has not had good success with marriage. I was living with my boyfriend for the last year. I told him to make a decision [about marriage], and that ended it. But it would never cross my mind not to live together with someone before marrying him."

Even so, the divorce rate among those who have cohabited is higher than that of those who have not.

From his study, Stanley also suggests that less religious men were likely to be less committed.

Stanley's study is based on a sub-sample of 207 men and women married 10 years or less and chosen from ongoing marital research on 950 adults nationwide. Standard assessments of commitment were used during telephone interviews.

=====================

Version from Dynamic Preaching on July 28, 2003:

According to Scott Stanley, co-director of the Center for Marital and Family Studies at the University of Denver, men and women who live together before getting married are much more likely to divorce than are couples who do not live together before marriage. Stanley's research shows that men who live with a woman before marriage are less likely to be committed to marriage than are men who never lived with their mate before marriage. Stanley's advice to women: “If you want someone to marry, choose someone who won't live with you.”

__________

“Cohabiting can make marriage an iffy proposition” by Karen S. Peterson USA Today July 8, 2002, p. D1.

*

Tina wants to get married, but her boyfriend Ted just wants to move in. Ted is an exceptionally honest young man, so here is what he says: "Tina, I'm fond of you, and I want to live with you for the following reasons. First, it will make it easier for me to enjoy regular sex. Second, I want to protect my assets -- assets I'd have to share with you if we got a divorce. Third, you already have kids, and I don't want to support them. Fourth, I'm waiting for my perfect soul mate to come along. Until I meet her, I'd like to live with you."

Sound convincing? Probably not. Tim's arguments are incredibly insulting. And yet, according to a new study, these are exactly the reasons men want to live with women -- reasons that not only insult women, but make them big losers on the domestic front.

At Rutgers University, researchers with the National Marriage Project have published a report called "Why Men Won't Commit: Exploring Young Men's Attitudes about Sex, Dating, and Marriage." The study offers the top ten reasons men are reluctant to say, "I do." Among them: They can get all the sex they want without marriage. They want to enjoy the single life as long as possible. They want to avoid the financial pitfalls of divorce. And they're afraid marriage will demand too many changes and compromises. Apparently, their live-in girlfriends can get used to their bad habits or leave.

Most galling of all is the admission by men that they don't want to marry their girlfriends because they're waiting for their "true love" to come along. Then they'll tie the knot, buy a home, and father kids. Meanwhile, their live-ins can pick up their socks and provide sex-on-demand.

Grandma was right: Men won't buy the cow if they can get the milk free.

Grandma was echoing the wisdom of the biblical writers. Read the Old Testament, and you'll get a picture of how carefully the ancient Israelites protected unmarried women: They knew how predatory, how utterly selfish, men can be. Taking on the responsibilities of a wife and children involved hard work that would last a lifetime. And men were only motivated to shoulder those responsibilities because their culture demanded it.

Modern women have far more freedom of movement than their sisters in the ancient world. But human nature is still fallen. This means that men are as predatory as ever -- and women today are paying the price for it in a culture that doesn't demand marriage.

I hope this report serves as a wake-up call to women who think men who want to cohabit have marriage on their minds. Most of them do not. Pastors ought to make this report a subject of a sermon. And if they know couples in their congregations are living together, they ought to encourage them to either marry -- or separate.

I hope you'll read the full Rutgers report. If enough women read it, maybe the day would come when men who invite women to live with them would get what they deserve: a slap in the face for that kind of insult.

FURTHER READING & INFORMATION

Armand M. Nicholi, Jr., The Question of God: C. S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud Debate God, Love, Sex, and the Meaning of Life (Free Press, 2002).

Barbara Dafoe Whitehead and David Popenoe, "Why Men Won't Commit: Exploring Young Men's Attitudes about Sex, Dating, and Marriage," The State of Our Unions: The Social Health of Marriage in America, The National Marriage Project, 2002. http://marriage.rutgers.edu/TEXTSOOU2002.htm

BreakPoint commentary no. 020523, "Looking for Love (in All the Virtual Places): Hyperdating." http://www.pfmonline.net/transcripts.taf?_function=detail&ID=2497&Site=BPT

Wilberforce Forum Fellow Dr. J. Budziszewski has written two columns -- "Who's on First?" and "The Moves" -- that, in the form of a conversation with one of his students, provides sage advice on how singles should approach dating.

http://www.boundless.org/2001/regulars/office_hours/a0000591.html

http://www.boundless.org/2001/regulars/office_hours/a0000604.html

William J. Bennett, The Broken Hearth: Reversing the Moral Collapse of the American Family (Waterbrook Press, 2001).

_________________________

Copyright © 2002 Prison Fellowship Ministries. Reprinted with permission. "BreakPoint with Chuck Colson" is a radio ministry of Prison Fellowship Ministries.

*

Why do churches have so many people on their membership rolls who give little or no evidence of Christian commitment or even conversion? Why do many churches find it difficult to motivate members to give, serve, pray and share their faith? The answer is simple. The members were allowed to join with no expectations placed on them.

You get what you ask for!

COMMITMENT. It's like the difference between couples who just "live together" and those who get married. While becoming a Christian means to commit yourself to Christ, becoming a church member means to commit yourself to other Christians. It is a commitment to a specific group of believers -- to practice the "one-another"s of the New Testament.

Paul mentions two different types of commitment in 2 Corinthians 8:5: "First they gave themselves to the Lord; and then, by God's will, they gave themselves to us as well" (GN). At Saddleback, we call these the first-base commitments. You commit yourself to Christ for salvation and then you commit yourself to other Christians for membership in our church family.

In our church we define koinonia (fellowship) as "being as committed to each other as we are to Jesus Christ."

Jesus said that our love for each other was to be the mark of discipleship (John 13:33-34).

I believe it's an indictment of American Christianity that most believers can quote John 3:16 but they can't quote 1 John 3:16: "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." When was the last time you heard a message on this verse? Today, most churches are silent about developing that level of commitment to each other.

The phrase "one another" or "each other" is used more than 50 times in the New Testament. We are commanded to love each other, pray for each other, encourage each other, admonish each other, greet each other, serve each other, teach each other, accept each other, honor each other, bear each other's burdens, forgive each other, sing to each other, submit to each other and be devoted to each other. All of these commands are what membership in a local body of believers is all about. These are the responsibilities of membership.

At Saddleback, we only expect of our members what the Bible clearly expects of all believers. These expectations are summarized in our Membership Covenant.

The most important part of a marriage ceremony is when the man and woman exchange vows. Before witnesses and God, they make certain promises to each other. This covenant between them is the essence of the marriage. In the same way, I believe the essence of church membership is contained in the willingness to commit to a membership covenant. It is the most important element of our membership class.

Throughout the Bible and church history, spiritual covenants have been made between people in order for mutual edification and accountability.

At Saddleback we have four requirements for membership:

1) A personal profession of Christ as Lord and Savior.

2) Baptism by immersion as a public symbol of one's faith.

3) Completion of the membership class.

4) A signed commitment to abide by Saddleback's membership covenant.

I urge you to prayerfully prepare and adopt a membership covenant in your congregation if you don't have one. It can revolutionize your church. You may worry, "If we adopt a membership covenant, there will be some who leave our church over it." You're right. There will be some. But here is the fact of reality: People are going to leave your church no matter what you do. Don't be afraid of people leaving. People even walked away from Jesus. When your congregation adopts a membership covenant, at least you're choosing the kind of people who stay.

Here is a copy of our membership covenant:

__________________________________

The Saddleback Membership Covenant

Having received Christ as my Lord and Savior and been baptized, and being in agreement with Saddleback's statements, strategy, and structure, I now feel led by the Holy Spirit to unite with the Saddleback church family. In doing so, I commit myself to God and to the other members to do the following:

1. I WILL PROTECT THE UNITY OF MY CHURCH

...By acting in love toward other members

...By refusing to gossip

...By following the leaders

"So let us concentrate on the things which make for harmony, and on the growth of our fellowship together." Rom. 15:19 (Ph)

"Have a sincere love for your fellow believers, love one another earnestly with all your hearts." 1 Peter 1:22 (TEV)

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs..." Eph. 4:29

"Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be no advantage to you." Heb. 13:17

2. I WILL SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MY CHURCH

...By praying for its growth

...By inviting the unchurched to attend

...By warmly welcoming those who visit

"To the church ... we always thank God for you and pray for you constantly." 1 Thess. 1:2

"The Master said to the servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes, and urge the people there to come so my house will be full.'" Luke 14:23 (NCV)

"So, warmly welcome each other into the church, just as Christ has warmly welcomed you; then God will be glorified." Rom. 15:7 (LB)

3. I WILL SERVE THE MINISTRY OF MY CHURCH

...By discovering my gifts and talents

...By being equipped to serve by my pastors

...By developing a servant's heart

"Serve one another with the particular gifts God has given each of you..." 1 Peter 4:10(Ph)

"God gave...some to be pastors and teachers to prepare God's people for works of ministry, so that the body of Christ may be built up..." Eph. 4:11-12

"Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ...who took on the very nature of a servant..." Phil. 2:3-4,7

4. I WILL SUPPORT THE TESTIMONY OF MY CHURCH

...By attending faithfully

...By living a godly life

...By giving regularly

"Let us not give up the habit of meeting together...but let us encourage one another." Heb. 10:25

"But whatever happens, make sure that your everyday life is worthy of the gospel of Christ." Phil. 1:27 (Ph)

"Each one of you, on the first day of each week, should set aside a specific sum of money in proportion to what you have earned and use it for the offering." 1 Cor. 16:2

"A tenth of all your produce is the Lord's, and it is holy." Lev. 27:30

_________________

Warren is pastor of Saddleback Valley Community Church, Lake Forest, Calif.

*

USA Today carried an article on broadcaster Pat Summerall. The article spoke of his career and his recovery from alcoholism. He had the opportunity to visit with Mickey Mantle while Mantle was on his deathbed. Mantle asked Summerall about baptism and just a few days before his death was baptized. Summerall himself was baptized last April and described it this way. "It's beyond my capability to describe. It was the most helpless feeling I've had. And the most invigorating."

543 Commitment or Loyalty (First Place Winner of $100)

In 1990, center fielder Brett Butler left the San Francisco Giants as a free agent. He was loved in San Francisco, and rightly so. He was a great player. But the best offer came from the LA Dodgers - the Giant's rivals. Early in the season, when the two teams met for the first time that year, Butler was the center of much attention. He was well loved by his former team, but now the Dodgers were playing in San Francisco. When the line ups were being read and the players introduced, the crowd roared as Butler, their former player, was announced. The people still loved him. Perhaps they felt he was still a Giant at heart. Brett Butler did something interesting at that moment. When he heard the response of the crowd, he walked up to his new manager, Tommy Lasorda, and he hugged him, in front of the thousands that filled San Francisco's Candlestick Park. Instantaneously, the cheers for Butler turned to boos and insults. After the game he was asked by the press why he did that. Brett Butler responded, "It turned a page in my career. I'm an LA Dodger now; I'm not a Giant. That just kind of solidified it. I wanted them to know I'm a Dodger."

TS: When people become Christians, in one way or another, they need to "hug Jesus" in the sight of their family, friends, coworkers and acquaintances. They need to make it clear who they now belong to - even if it causes some to boo and sneer. Like Brett Butler, we need to go public with our commitment. Let there be no question in anyone's mind, our loyalties are to Him first.

Submitted by Scott Weber, Estes Park, CO

#18478

*

When our Lord said "go," He did not ask us to sit down and evaluate what the chances were that we would return. Two Coast Guardsmen were preparing to engage in a rescue attempt of two fishermen lost in a storm. Someone shouted out to them: "Don't go out there. You may never get back." One of the guardsmen replied, "We don't have to get back, but we have to go."

The question is asked, "Is there anything more beautiful in life than a boy and girl clasping clean hands and pure hearts in the path of marriage?" And the answer is given, "Yes - there is a more beautiful thing; it is the spectacle of an old man and an old woman finishing their journey together on that path. Their hands are gnarled but still clasped; their faces are seamed but still radiant; their hearts are tired and bowed down but still strong. They have proved the happiness of marriage and have vindicated it from the jeers of cynics."

There are great abilities that people acquire, cultivate and demonstrate. In the service of God there is one ability that is the greatest ability of all. What is it? Is it sociability, compatibility, accountability, adaptability, or reliability? The greatest ability is availability. If we are not available to God, no matter what other kind of ability we have, it is no good. Ability without availability is a liability.

What does availability mean? It means to place one's self totally, absolutely, completely at God's disposal for Him to do anything and everything He wants to do in us, through us, with us, for us, when He chooses. Anything less than that is putting restrictions on God and writing fine print in your commitment contract to Jesus Christ.

The successful man lengthens his stride when he discovers that the signpost has deceived him; the failure looks for a place to sit down.

Thomas Edison did not sit down and give up when his first efforts to find an effective filament for the carbon incandescent lamp met with failure. He lengthened his stride! He sent men to China, Japan, South America, Asia, Jamaica, Ceylon, and Burma in search of fibers and grasses to be tested in his laboratory.

Luther Burbank, the plant wizard, did not quit when obstacles blocked his way. At one time he personally conducted more than 6,000 experiments before he found the solution.

George Westinghouse was treated as a mild lunatic by most railroad executives. "Stopping a train by wind! The man's crazy!" Yet he persevered, and finally sold the air-brake idea.

James Watt built model after model of his steam engine before he got one that worked efficiently.

Every man gets on the wrong road at times. He comes down hills, rough roads, and dangerous detours. What he does when he meets these obstacles determines his destiny. The world never hears from those who look for a place to sit down and quit.

This is my church...

It is composed of people just like me.

It will be friendly if I am.

It will do a great work if I work.

It will make generous gifts to many causes if I am generous.

It will bring others into its fellowship if I bring them.

Its seats will be filled if I fill them.

It will be a church of loyalty and love, of faith and service if I, who make it what it is, am filled with these.

Therefore, with God's help, I dedicate myself to the task of being all these things I want my church to be.

A conversion is incomplete if it does not leave Jesus Christ in the central place in one's life. The shortest possible description of a Christian -- a description with which the New Testament would fully agree -- is that a Christian is a person who can say: "For me, Jesus Christ is Lord."

Herbert Butterfield's words about facing the future are good: "Hold to Christ, and for the rest be totally uncommitted." Any alleged conversion which does not leave one totally committed solely to Jesus Christ is incomplete and imperfect.

-- William Barclay, In the Hands of God

The holidays will be joyous for some, solemn for others. Another year has rolled by and some have moved ahead and some slipped behind. The shopping malls will be decked with glitter and shine. Many people will buy gifts to thank those they love. Some will search for the perfect way to send an apology so that next year will be better. Some will shop because that’s all they know. Another season will pass, and another year will end. The holidays are here and I am looking for the perfect gift.

Try something different this year and give the gift of commitment to all the people that depend on you. Say thank you to the spouse who stood by you in times of despair. Thank you to the child who obeyed you in times of doubt. The gift of admiration and reverence to your parents who nurtured you to become who you are. The gift of forgiveness to all the people that hurt you. An apology to the employer who kept you in spite of days of inadequate performance. Make a commitment to start a new chapter in your life. The holidays are here, it’s time to sow the seeds of hope.

On February 14, 1999, I made a commitment to renew my vows to my beloved bride of 13 years. As we stood in front of the altar holding each other’s hands, I felt her soft, supple palms that were silky to touch. As I gazed into the beauty of her eyes, tears rolled slowly down her cheeks. Her expression hid the calluses of years of laundry and cooking. Her mannerisms clouded the many sleepless nights she spent nurturing our son. Her joy camouflaged the many disappointments we had faced as we tried to make a life in a foreign land. But her supple palms and silky touch said, “Oh how I love thee, let me count the ways.” The holidays are here, it’s time to love unconditionally for it will conquer all.

We are at the cusp of a new century and the New Year will bring the promise of something spectacular. In addition to the doubts we have, we will carry with us both good and bad memories. If we make a commitment to honor the opportunity we have, and remind ourselves that we live in the best of times in the best country in the world, it will be a lot easier. The holidays are here. I am glad to be where I am, for this is the center of my world and from here I can go anywhere and the farthest distance is just twelve thousand miles.