HEAVENLY FAMILY

After every stage of creation, God was pleased with what he saw (Genesis 1). The only thing God found to be “not good” was the solitude of Adam (Genesis 2: 18). Hence He made a suitable human companion and established the first family on earth. He made man in His own likeness (Genesis 1: 26, 27). He designed family in the likeness of Heaven.

During an interview with a couple celebrating the golden jubilee of their married life, the husband was asked, “What is the secret of your successful married life?”

He said, “In our family, we follow a division of labour. I take the decision in all the important matters. My wife takes decision in all silly matters. So there is no confusion and we are happy.” The next question was, “How do you classify matters into important and silly?”

“That is my discretion”, asserted the dominating wife.

That is how several families maintain peace - by surrendering to the dominance of the stronger partner. Real happiness results only when there is close co-operation and mutual respect between partners. Otherwise the better half becomes the bitter half. In several oriental Christian churches, during the sacrament of matrimony, the priest adorns both the husband and the wife with the matrimonial ring. It symbolizes that the spouse is received from God. Matrimony is thus a union of three- the husband, wife and God. Marriages are conceived in heaven and celebrated on earth. The ideal family is an image of heaven.

By Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India.

This is story No.85 in this site. Please click ‘older posts’ at bottom of page to read previous stories.