Wedding presents are supposed to be kept a fairly long time and they're also supposed to be unwrapped, but for one couple, the gift they left wrapped for nine years turned out to be the best gift of all.
When Kathy and Brandon Gunn got married nine years ago they received a plain white box with a simple card that read: “Do not open until your 1st disagreement.”
Despite having a few disagreements during their nearly decade-long marriage the Gunns left the gift — given to them by Kathy's great aunt Alison — untouched.
"I honestly think that we both avoided turning to the box, because it would have symbolized our failure," Kathy explained in a Facebook post on Love What Matters. "To us, [opening] it would have meant that we didn’t have what it takes to make our marriage work – and we’re both too stubborn and determined for that."
After opening the box (on a happy night), the couple quickly discovered what was inside wasn't really the magic cure to all marriage problems — it was the symbol of the box that really strengthened the pair.
"... It somehow taught us about tolerance, understanding, compromise and patience," Kathy said of the box's symbolism. Though the box is no longer sitting in the couple's closet, it continues to leave a lasting impression on them.
As Kathy puts it, "the tools for creating and maintaining a strong, healthy marriage were never within that box — they were within us."
Inside the box were two letters — one addressed to Kathy, the other addressed to Brandon — with money and instructions on how they each should spend it. Brandon was told to buy flowers and a bottle of wine while Kathy was instructed to get pizza, shrimp "or something you both like." The aunt added, "Get a 'bath' ready."
What a thoughtful gift!
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