Today’s Family

Conducted by Mabel Jones Gabbott

A Note to June Newlyweds about “diversities of gifts”

The words are “you two are one.” Married! Joined together for a glorious adventure, now and for all time. What a beautiful promise!

At this moment it is just a promise. The words have been said, but the promise must be lived. And this will take great love—unselfish love—genuine love that is willing to go more than halfway for the benefit of the beloved partner.

This will take great faith—faith in one another—as unique individuals; faith in each other’s particular gifts and talents and abilities; faith also in one’s self, in one’s own worth and contribution to the marriage; faith in the eternal perspective of marriage and in the Creator who designed it thus.

This will take also the exercise of certain special gifts, “diversities of gifts,” as the apostle Paul says, for to one is given wisdom; to another knowledge; to another faith; to another the gifts of healing; to another the working of miracles; to another divers kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues. (See 1 Cor. 12:4, 8–10.)

A man and a woman think differently. They see things from masculine or feminine viewpoints. While they may be poles apart in thinking about some things, yet striving to be one in all things, they have need for wisdom and for knowledge to keep marriage always a glowing promise.

Be wise enough, young husband, never to leave home for a meeting or for work, the office, or the field and the plow, without remembering a kiss before departure. Be wise also, young bride, and be there at the door, waiting and eager to receive the kiss.

Believing is as catching as measles, as the mumps, as indifference, or as indolence. Keep alive the gift of faith between you; believe in each other’s worth, in the life you have chosen to share, in the goodness of the world, in the efficacy of work, in the power of love.

So the toast was burned, the offering rejected, the harsh words spoken, and the feelings shredded. Oh, be quick to exercise the gift of healing between you, with a kind word or an apology, with an amusing look at the situation.

Truly there are “divers kinds of tongues,” matching the mood of irritation, gloom, depression, joy, or affection. And there are also certain interpretations of tongues. Listen to the tone and, as the years unfold, learn to interpret it wisely.

Listen, young husband, when your wife’s tongue is sharp or soft, tight-lipped or loud, harsh or angry or cold. Consider: is this the time she wants tenderness, comfort, or sympathy? Or is this a time when she just wants you to go lose yourself and say not a word?

Be wise, young wife, when your husband comes home. Listen to his silence or his groan, his dour look or his gay loquaciousness, and interpret it carefully. Perhaps this is the moment for sharing that lemon pie and detailing all the little happenings of the day. Perhaps this is the time to quietly place a sandwich before him, with his favorite book and comfortable shoes, and then disappear.

There are diversities of gifts. Be knowledgeable. Be receptive. Exercise wisely these gifts in marriage, and soon you will be working the miracle of loving and living together.

“An Apple a Day”—Remember?

Early summer apples are likely to be juicy, tart, and quick-cooking. And the first taste of a summer apple is delicious.

Eat apples in generous quantities raw—they provide some vitamin C. Bake them in pies; apples in summer make beautiful applesauce.

Use apples in salads: chopped with celery and nuts, or sliced with orange sections and onion rings.

Use apples with meat: baked with a ham slice and served with raisin sauce, or cooked with crumbled sausage to spoon over pancakes.

Use apples with vegetables: with sweet potatoes and marshmallows, or diced and cooked with diced red cabbage.

Use apples in desserts: grated in pancakes sprinkled with powdered sugar for a treat shared with a friend on a warm June evening.

For apple pie: Mrs. Jeane P. Larsen at Idaho State University says her family likes the apples in their apple pie filling grated rather than sliced. After the grated apples have been seasoned with sugar, butter, and cinnamon and slightly cooked, they are poured into a pie dish that is lined with aluminum foil, then frozen. After quick-freezing, the pie filling can be lifted from the pie plate, wrapped more securely in its foil wrapping, and returned to the freezer for use some future day. The pie plate returns to daily duty, thus saving room in the freezer. When apple pie is on the menu, Mrs. Larsen fits the pie shell to the pie plate, slips the frozen pie filling from the foil into the shell, and completes the cooking. Time saved! Taste enhanced!