Family Values

This is Phin. He introduced me to what it means to value family.

In the history of his culture national leadership was often unreliable. Either over-run by another country, or corrupt within, there was no ‘voice for the people’ when help was needed. Help needed to come from another source - and it did. People learned to rely on family and to keep its structure together, as much as possible.

At the time of this photo Phin and his wife were taking care of 2 kids, his aging father, and a brother [caring for his father] - 3 generations represented by 6 people - all in one home. Know that if you were a part of his family, times may be tough all around you, but you would never have to worry about being on the street. You would be brought into the family home and expected to help in any way you can.

When I began writing about keeping a marriage together, using separation [if needed] for change rather than pursuing a divorce, I realized that I had a problem to work out. Not everyone has another villa, a condo, or extra finances to rent a place while marriage issues get worked out. What does a mother with children do when she has to leave a physically abusive husband? Where does she go? Where does a husband or wife go if they needed time to work out their issues? Is government assistance the answer? What is the solution?

It’s the same answer that Phin was given from his parents and generations before them - family. For those who are religious, this same answer is given in the New Testament [1 Timothy 5:3 - 8]. Family takes care of family regardless - unless temporary boundaries need to be set for a family member’s behavior.

And why is this THE answer? Like spokes on a wheel, it is marriage supporting the family and family supporting the marriage in return . . . for ages to come. It teaches the value of marriage - that it produces a family. Family is the reason we need to keep our marriages in tact - for support of the next generation & beyond. It is so there will always be a safe haven for ‘one of ours’ when protection is needed during a storm. Family makes for strong Nations - regardless of the government. It is never advocating for the destruction or dissolution of a marriage, especially by relatives and family, because they understand its importance. They are to support, not in ignorance destroy, the family.

It is the perfect answer. Just ask Phin and a million like him.