Wedding Anniversary and Kahlil Gibran's thoughts on Marriage

Then Almitra spoke again and said, "And what of Marriage, master?" And he answered saying:

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness, And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

Love one another but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.

Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone, Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping. For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together: For the pillars of the temple stand apart, And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

--excerpt from Kahlil Gibran's "The Prophet"--

I remember sometime ago, when my mother coming home from work brought a seemingly old hardbound black book with her. I vividly recall that the only words you can see at the front cover were its title --- The Prophet. My mom and dad are voracious readers hence, my sisters and I shared the same passion when we were younger. I was curious about the black book that I began reading it and by the time I was done, I was so into Kahlil Gibran that up to this day I refer to The Prophet once in a while especially at times when I feel I am at a crossroad.

However, today, I am quoting Kahlil Gibran’s message on marriage because tomorrow, the 4th of February, my parents celebrate their 42nd Wedding Anniversary. When I was younger, I used to think that my parents were just there and just that. I never realised how much one has to work hard for a marriage to survive. As kids growing into “hormone frenzied” teenagers we’d think that Love and having a boyfriend was all sugar and spice and everything nice while Marriage is a bed of roses. While I bear no complaints about my own marriage, I do agree that, Marriage is serious hard work. I am thankful that my mother taught me and my sisters to cook and do house chores. Although no one can maintain the same standards my mom has at least these skills had us prepared. 42 years of Marriage is indeed a milestone, these days, couples are lucky if they get past 10. I am proud to have parents who have done everything for our family to survive. I am a proud daughter to parents who has instilled in us the value of kinship hence, this is the same thing I do with my own children today.

I continually pray that my own marriage would follow the same path that my parents has taken, luckily my husband’s parents (although my father in law has passed away years ago) holds the same belief.

To you Papa and Mama Cheers on your 42nd Wedding Anniversary! May you have more years together so that, we your daughters, and your grandchildren continue to bear witness to your love story...