Mother-in-law have always been a hot topic, especially with a seaman's wife. Day in day out, I have heard and read stories about how difficult it is to have a "good and healthy" relationship with their mother-in-law -- which others fondly refer to as their monster-in-law.
I have a friend who I recently had coffee with when she told me about the annoying things his mother-in-law, and his husband, are up to.
You see, they all live in one roof. Husband is a seafarer and wife is a homemaker. H is the youngest and the only boy in the family while W is the eldest of 5 siblings.
"I know he loves me but I can't help but feel jealous of my MIL. He does everything for her. Konting request, hindi na siya magkanda ugaga. Dali dali gagawin. But if I ask for something, he can think of a million excuses. And I think my MIL knows that her son will do anything for her so I feel that she takes advantage of that."
"I may be younger than MIL but I know how to take care of my kids. She always tells me what to do when it comes to raising my kids. Masyadong pakialamera! Pati kung ano mga bibilhin ko para sa mga bata, may opinion siya. Adobo lang ha may opinion pa siya. Kesyo dapat ganito, dapat ganyan. Nakakairita!"
"Ang KSP niya! Papansin masyado lalo na kay H. Dami niyang drama. Nagpapa-awa pa lagi kay H."
"She's always right and I am always wrong. What's worst is that H always seem to take her side. Pagbigyan mo na, matanda na eh. Pagbigyan mo na, nanay ko naman yan eh."
"Kakainis! Ako na lang lagi umiintindi!"
These words are not new to my ears. I've heard this several times from different friends and have read these from some Facebook rants.
Here's where the problem lies.... It's because you all live in one house!
Genesis 2:24 says
Therefore a man shall LEAVE his father and his mother and HOLD FAST TO HIS WIFE and they shall become one flesh.
This has been repeated in the New Testament a few more times.
Matthew 19:5
Mark 10:7
Ephesians 5:31
It being repeated more than once means it actually is something worth highlighting.
It says Leave your father and mother and hold fast (stick) to your wife.
When you marry, your favored and cherished person should be your wife (husband), not mom (or dad) anymore.
Having two families in the same house can cause a lot of tension esp. for the person who will "join" the band. It may seem ok at the beginning but it will surely not produce a healthy relationship for the 2 families -- with the son (or daughter) stuck in the middle.
So I tell you, leaving and cleaving (as most experts call it) is the best and ONLY way to have a healthy relationship with one's mother-in-law. God also designed it this way.
Leave Man! Leave!
But of course, I understand that there are a lot of alternative issues and concerns and topics about mother-in-laws -- and leaving and cleaving.
How about honoring your mom and all that? Money issues? Stability?
We'll talk about that some other time.
Right now, I leave you with the same verse...
Therefore a man shall LEAVE his father and his mother and HOLD FAST TO HIS WIFE and they shall become one flesh.
No comments:
Post a Comment