Traditionally, newlyweds unwrap their wedding presents immediately following the ceremony; however, Kathy Gunn and her spouse opted for a different approach. They maintained the unopened gift from their grandmother for a duration of nine years, and the dusty package ended up being a saving grace for their marriage.
Kathy and Brandon chose not to open the gift due to a message inscribed on the wrapping paper, which read, “Do not open until first disagreement.”
This simple phrase provided them with some support, and they did not feel compelled to open the box during any of their minor disagreements.
However, after nearly a decade of wedded bliss, the couple found themselves in the midst of their biggest quarrel yet. Brandon even left the house for the evening to allow Kathy some alone time to decompress. During this period, Kathy finally decided to open the gift.
Inside the box were two signed envelopes, one for Kathy herself and the other for Brandon, each containing a small amount of money along with an explanatory note.
Kathy’s letter advised her to use the money to buy some delicious food, take a relaxing bath, and wait for her husband. Brandon’s note, written by his grandmother, suggested that he use the money to purchase a nice gift for his wife, spend a night at a hotel (giving his wife some time to calm down), and buy some flowers.
“Although it may seem naive from an outside perspective, the simple advice truly helped us. Sometimes, all it takes is a small gesture to change one’s perspective,” said Kathy later.
In the end, the couple reconciled and realized that Brandon’s grandmother, who had been married for fifty years, understood the true meaning of her gift.
