The marriage institution as we know it has come under grave attacks and distortions. Today, men marry men, women marry women and there has been a case of a woman marrying a tree, just as gender identity is now flexible. Kim Kardashian’s stepfather is now her stepmother who was once married to her mother as a man who has changed his gender to a woman. Such are the distortions we have experienced in this century. This is also one of the reasons why evangelicals support Donald Trump regardless of the content of his character. They do not care if he is a liar, tax evasion expert, or an unfaithful husband. They believe he is a better man and a representative of the Church than Barrack Obama or Joe Biden who arguably exhibits more Christian virtues. These are perilous times indeed as Bible students and religious faithful will opine. Natural disasters are increasing in magnitude and frequency. Man-made tragedies are becoming more gruesome. Is this the end? I cannot tell. But it is always better to prepare for tomorrow while addressing the needs of today. One of the pressing needs of today is the family, which is the nucleus or building block of any community, nation, and the world. We are entering a period where our humanity and existence is under constant threat. COVID-19 has shown how fragile we are even with our technological advancements. Organized crime is getting more organized and police brutality and inhumanity are increasing. What is the way forward?

When Kim Kardashian and Kanye West tied the knot on May 24, 2014, many set a stopwatch for their marriage. They were not expecting them to celebrate their 2nd anniversary. Some who were more optimistic never expected them to have 4 children. They have admirably exceeded all expectations. Kanye’s recent mental health challenges and outbursts also gave more impetus to the naysayers who started predicting an imminent divorce. Kim’s recent online post that all is well and that she is so fortunate to have the family she has is another feather in her beautiful hat. She is a rarity taking into consideration that Kanye and her family have volatile and unpredictable tendencies. I greet her faithfulness and her commitment to her husband and family. Life and learning begin in the family. It is in the family that virtues of honesty, love, and professionalism are imbibed. The family is the place where our reality about life is shaped. It the place where relationship and marital skills are learned. Psychologists and psychiatrists have centuries ago linked a child’s upbringing or family setting to their character in adulthood. Kim’s commitment to her family is a model young couple especially those in the media spotlight should emulate. Some might say the coast is not clear, I say let’s celebrate them this far.

For couples and couples to be, marriage or any relationship needs constant attention and upkeep synonymous with gardening. Weeds are always threatening the beauty and health of the garden. And the gardeners who are the parents must do all they can to sustain love, peace, and harmony in their family and home. Evil and unreasonable men and women are often on the prowl looking for inlets. Couples must patch every opening before it becomes public knowledge. They must do this for themselves as well as for their children who need a loving and stable home to develop into adults who are purposeful, honest, hardworking, and law-abiding citizens. They must guard their union and family more than Fort Knox. Their love and respect for each other must not grow old even as they grow older. They must creatively find ways to recharge their affection and commitment to themselves and children. As the world continues to experience escalating crises, the family is the place we can recreate and regain sanity. The family is the place where we can learn to overcome the mental health challenges that the new world settings bring. Children have a greater chance of becoming successful adults in a loving and stable home where father and mother play their God-given roles effectively.

Ata Ukuta, Editor  – www.towncryyers.com