The First Family Council

And so the wedding is behind us, the “honeymoon year” is ahead, and we live somewhere between these events in the “today,” already needing to take steps, but now within the framework of our family.

How wonderful it was, waking up early in the morning, to see my dear wife next to me and to give her my morning blessing in the form of a gentle embrace. How unusual it is to touch your beloved woman and not worry about being misunderstood! And we didn’t want to go anywhere at all, yet we had various matters and events waiting for us that we needed to take part in.

Although we were drawn to each other, we decided to continue our celebration in the everyday solutions to different tasks that no one else could resolve but us.

Our first family morning began with a joint family prayer. How unusual it was to pray about our needs with my wife! We prayed for blessing for one another, for our family, and we believed that our words were heard and that a Heavenly answer was already being prepared. I, she, and the Lord—what could be more beautiful?

In the other room, a mountain of gifts and unopened envelopes awaited us, which friends had neatly placed on the table. These were further surprises, but we decided to have breakfast first.

There wasn’t much to choose from. Friends had made sure to bring, along with our gifts, the leftovers from the wedding feast. How timely that was! Thanking the Lord for such abundance, we began our meal.

I had the idea to hold the first family council in order to determine the concept of the further arrangement of our private enterprise called “family.” My wife supported my proposal, and we decided to immediately proceed with the discussion of the proposed agenda.

We asked for God’s blessing, turned off our phones, and, accompanied by the cheerful crunch of breakfast, began to put forward constructive proposals for the improvement of our family hearth.

Understanding that many proposals would not pass ratification without mutual agreement, I first decided to bring up my conclusions for discussion, trying not to touch on contentious issues.

First, I confessed my love to my lawful life partner. My speech was not long, and in an hour and a half I was able to “lay all my cards on the table” and rejoiced in the fact that I loved. How joyful and unusual it was for me to love my wife, to tell her about it, to open my heart, and to try to convince her that it was forever and genuine! And she listened to me and for some reason cried while smiling joyfully.

I understood that something very important was beginning in our family, and so I decided to establish it on a right foundation, grounded not on feelings and emotions, but on a deep principle.

Before our wedding, we had already spoken about many things and made important decisions, but now we began building that very project, “A Happy Family,” in which we already found ourselves, and we could now see, understand, and develop it from within.

My dear half took the floor and began to tell me her thoughts and feelings toward me. Though during our friendship I had heard her modest confessions of love, now, already within the family, it sounded sincere, so sweet, and so real.

We agreed not to interrupt each other in conversation but to give short answers and ask leading questions. How many things can be quickly resolved in simple communication! You simply, calmly state your opinion and listen to another. And how much is resolved!

After exchanging confessions of love, we gently embraced and moved on to planning our future. I proposed to build happiness, and I was unanimously supported in this. We discussed the matter and decided that each of us would contribute to our union without changing the set course.

I did not know what would come of it, but the desire to have a happy family and to do something mutually to achieve it began to inspire me with different thoughts, which immediately came to mind. I realized that God approved of our decision and was already sending us useful ideas in the form of good thoughts that we could voice and put into practice.

I looked at my hands and reached them out to my beloved, asking her to choose for herself the place on her body where they could have free access at any time when we were alone. Without thinking long, she leaned her back against me, took my hands, pressed them to herself, and showed me where and what they could touch. I immediately remembered everything and decided to pass my first exam, for which I received the highest grade in the form of her joyful exclamations.

Then she decided to give me her hands so that I could also show them their place on my body. How fun it was to introduce such rules into our life! But this is our family, and within it we can plan everything we like.

We agreed that all our personal and intimate matters that we would have and resolve would always remain only between us, and we would not share them with anyone.

We also agreed that our affectionate embraces, pressing against each other, and kisses would not be put on public display, but we would keep them to ourselves, behaving modestly and with dignity in public.

Communicating in a friendly spirit, we identified so many interesting aspects of our new relationship that we decided to write everything down so as not to forget or miss anything. For this, each of us took a notebook and wrote down everything most necessary and important.

We became so engrossed in each other and in making our future plans that we forgot about everything else in the world.

The time for lunch came. And again the wedding leftovers came to our rescue. After eating, we decided to take a walk and continue discussing our happiness.

Touching on the matter of the family budget and finances, we agreed to combine what we had into a common fund and to jointly decide how to use it. It was decided to honestly give to God what is God’s, and to Caesar what is Caesar’s.

We already knew that the Lord had designated the husband responsible for obtaining and spending family resources, but we could not understand how this would happen in practice. Yet our ability to agree on everything and discuss everything helped us reach agreement in this area as well.

Returning home from the walk, we decided to unpack all the gifts. We prayed for wisdom in this matter and began to open the beautiful boxes, examining their contents. We decided to rejoice in everything we received and to thank each person who gave us something.

Opening another envelope with money or a gift, we read the enclosed congratulations, briefly prayed for these people, and then tried to call them personally to thank each one. And to those we could not reach, we left a thankful voice message. And those with whom we had no contact we wrote down in a list, so that we could thank them when we met. How many kind words we additionally heard addressed to us, and our happiness grew from our spirit of gratitude.

Counting all the money that was given, we set aside a tithe and dedicated it as holy to the Lord. But from the gifts we decided not to set anything aside, since we did not know their value and did not understand how this would be right.

We enjoyed planning our happiness so much that we decided to continue doing it with simplicity of heart and mutual joy.

The first day passed wonderfully.

1. Please read Proverbs 15:22-23; 27:9; Philippians 2:1-5; Amos 3:3; 1 Corinthians 16:14; Galatians 5:13; Proverbs 5:18-19; John 15:12,17; 1 Peter 1:22; Song of Solomon 1:1; 7:7-11; Ephesians 4:2-4; 5:25 in the light of this lesson.

2. What did you understand from this topic?

3. What other verses from the Bible came to your mind?

4. Do you think that if two people decide to agree on something, they will succeed?

5. Can various questions and tasks be resolved through communication? Or should this be done alone, only informing others?

6. Is a family council necessary in a family?

7. What should be done if I want to have a family council, but my close one does not?

8. Do we have the right to establish our own rules, traditions, and holidays in our family?

9. Should we involve our relatives or close friends in our family matters and questions?

10. Does God take into account our earthly councils and decisions?

11. What should be done if our opinions do not coincide, and neither wants to yield?

12. Is it right to think more about the happiness of one’s spouse than about one’s own?

13. Do you think that if one constantly thinks about the happiness of their other half, something good will come of it?

14. If these lessons contradict the accepted standards and ideas in my life, should something be changed?

15. Will wisdom be punishable if we try to have it in our family?