Through Thick and Thin
By joshua_w
@joshua_w (501)
Malaysia
July 11, 2008 6:36am CST
Nothing much to say. Maybe it's because of all the negative events happening in my country the past week. Makes us all (meaning, us ordinary citizens in my homeland), or at least me, very tired already.
Read an email from my brother-in-law today. Such a pleasant read in a long time (felt like it). I'm not going to be original this time. Here's the content of it which i'm just going to share with all of you.
You are going to have to refer to the attached picture for a clearer understanding, ya.
"Why should the wedding ring be worn on the fourth finger?
There is a beautiful and convincing explanation given by the 'Chinese Legend'...
Thumb represents your Parents
Second (Index) finger represents your Siblings
Middle finger represents your-Self
Fourth (Ring) finger represents your Life Partner
& the Last (Little) finger represents your children
Firstly, open your palms (face to face), bend the middle fingers and hold them together - back to back.
Secondly, open and hold the remaining three ingers and the thumb - tip to tip (again, please refer to the picture)
Now, try to separate your thumbs (representing the parents)..., they will open, because your parents are not destined to live with you lifelong, and have to leave you sooner or later.
Please join your thumbs as before and separate your Index fingers (representing siblings)..., they will also open, because your brothers and sisters will have their own families and will have to lead their own separate lives.
Now join the Index fingers and separate your Little fingers representing your children)..., they will open too, because the children also will get married and settle down on their own some day.
Finally, join your Little fingers, and try to separate your Ring fingers (representing your spouse). You will be surprised to see that you just CANNOT... because Husband & Wife have to remain together all their lives - through thick and thin!
ISN'T THIS A LOVELY THEORY?"
It just renew my faith in the sacred institution of marriage.
Everyone have a great weekend then.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
11 Jul 08
That reminds me of the little saying some Sunday School children have where they put their fingers together and say "This is the church, this is the steeple, open the doors and here are the people!" It goes toward the bottom of the page, but here are pictures:
http://www.daniellesplace.com/HTML/Bible_themes%20-%20Churches.html
Well, that is different, but the idea of representing something symbolic with our hands is the same. I am glad some people still think of the institution of marriage as sacred. In the olden times, I think it was more about property rights, but it is still good that families exist, especially when they have common goals and are helpful and supportive of one another. To me that is the real essence of humanity.
1 person likes this
@joshua_w (501)
• Malaysia
12 Jul 08
It's always fascinating to read or hear of "ideas of representing something symbolic or abstract with something physical".
As we moved into the modern world, where thoughts and information is held in high regards, the notion of two people being together where one view the other as 'property rights' is fast diminishing. i hope.
We're sharing our lives together, not by one party being subservient to the other! That thought should have been extinguished along with the dinosaurs and woolly mammoths.
Liked your thoughts on the family tribute about sharing common goals and being supportive of each other.
I leave you with this:
"The happiest people on this planet are not those who live on their own terms, but are those who change their terms for the one whom they love."
1 person likes this
@kingcrapper (1536)
• United States
11 Jul 08
I really like that. I really hit home with me since I am having problems with my children, my parents an my marriage. Fine situation to be in just the same! But I like the imagiary you created here and I truely wish people would take their marriage more seriously and communicate more about their feelings and what they are going through. Great post!
@joshua_w (501)
• Malaysia
12 Jul 08
Well Kingcrapper, i hope things will turn out fine with your family. Communications is really the essence of a good marriage.
If only people of different races would try to communicate more so that we could understand each other. Most of all people want the same thing-a peaceful and happy life.
Thanks for the praise!
