MORAL STORIES

A MEMORABLE MEMENTO

A Jewish couple did not have children even ten years after their marriage. The husband wanted to divorce his wife and marry another woman to continue his race and perpetuate his name. The wife loved him most dearly and did not like to part from him.

The matter was brought before the Rabbi, who was very wise. The Rabbi told him, “As per your request, I can solemnize your divorce, but you must arrange a grand party for your guests on the day before the parting ceremony. It must be better than the party on your wedding day.” He readily agreed to conduct a party.

The party was in progress. As directed by the Rabbi, the wife poured wine into the husband’s cup again and again till he was heavily intoxicated. Then she asked him, “Darling, what shall I take from your house as a memento to my house to remember the delightful days we lived together?” He was lavish in his offer. “You may take from my home your dearest article - whatever you love most,” he offered. Very soon he fell down on his bed, in deep sleep.

The Rabbi asked some of the guests to carry the sleeping husband along with his cot to the wife’s house. The next day, he woke up and finding that he was in his wife’s house, he asked in anger, “What have you done? How did I reach here?” His loving wife was patiently waiting by the side of the cot. She answered, “I have only obeyed your words, said in public yesterday, during the party. I have carried to my home what I loved most dearly - that is, yourself!”

Her words opened his eyes. He was sorry that he could not appreciate her lasting love towards him. He embraced her most affectionately and gave up the idea of divorce. They lived together very happily. God blessed them and she conceived and gave birth to a smart and saintly son. Their joy was beyond measure.

Man was created in the image of God. The first family was created by God in the image of heaven. It is God’s wish that every family should remain as a heaven of happiness.

The five letters in the word ‘FAMILY’ represent the first letters of the words in the meaningful phrase- ‘Father And Mother In Love, Year-round’

Marital love is a great gift of God. It should be active year-round. It should be constant, continuous and equally strong during all seasons of the year- lasting till the last moment of life.

To the Pharisees’ question about divorce, Jesus answered, “Haven’t you read the scripture that says that in the beginning the Creator made people male and female? And God said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and unite with his wife, and the two will become one.’ So they are no longer two, but one. Man must not separate, then, what God has joined together” {Matthew 19: 4 - 6}.

This is story No. 142 in this site. Please click ‘older posts’ at bottom of page to read previous stories in this site.

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