The Living Family:
Chroniclers of History, Paragons of Virtues, Catalysts for Change
On the seventh day, God the Creator of all, looked and beamed at the beauty all around. He stared at His steadfast sun, and glanced at His glimmering moon with all her star children scintillating with exuberance. He wandered around the flora and fauna that bloomed in jubilation. God went at the back of the first man, and He felt the loneliness of the man in the vastness of the great Earth. He thought with scrutiny, “I’ll make him a family!” God again “scooped the clay” and molded the first woman and children, and He joyfully endowed them with the breath of life, thus the beginning of the living family.
And family is born, and has since evolved, from the primeval clans that roamed the forests in search for food to the dynasties that ruled empires, from the fathers and sons who volunteered their lives in ceaseless wars to the devoted families that marched the boulevards, shouting for peace and freedom.
But still, one thing will never change in living families of all ages – the impact that they produced to their societies.
The family is the backbone of our world society. This special circle of living souls serves as foundation of cities moving ahead, and as witness to every transformation in society. Developments in civilizations can be attributed to the efforts of myriads of families. In Rome, the Gracchus brothers, Tiberius and Gaius, with their mother Cornelia, instituted various social reforms in the Republic such as the distribution of lands among poor farmers, enforcing laws regarding property limitations, and securing more rights for the middle class. During the Renaissance, the Medici family led the rebirth of classical culture in Florence, Italy, by building academies of art and literature and giving opportunities to artisans to develop their talents. Clans after clans ruled the Chinese empire in a dynastic cycle, bringing opulence and harmony in their people and making China the power that it is now in Asia. Filipino families also have their part in authoring our history and cultivating our culture. During colonial times, the clans of Rizal, Bonifacio, del Pilar, Luna, and Silang sowed the seeds of courage to fight for freedom, the same seeds being nurtured and brought to fruition in our days.
God created the living family for a special purpose – to design a better world for the next generations. Thanks to the efforts of the earlier families that contributed to the weaving of mankind’s future. But still, completing this vision requires the work of love from more families to serve as paragons of virtues to other families and catalysts of transformations. To fulfill this vested duty, the family and its members should learn the vital principles of respect, trust, unity, and most importantly, love.
The great Chinese philosopher Confucius emphasized the import of filial piety or respect and obedience to parents. Filiality is the foundation of virtue and the root of civilization. The Book of Ecclesiastes also presents the rewards of reverence to elders, especially to fathers. He that honoureth his father shall have a long life (Ecclesiastes 3:6). And even the primordial code of Hammurabi, considered the world’s first-ever law, describes the punishment of lacking this virtue. If a man has struck his father his hand shall be cut off. Different faiths, different theologies, but they all have the same concept of respect for elders. For us Filipinos, it is the heart-warming mano po that expresses this essential value.
Trust is the force that unites all repulsive entities. Trust serves as a magnet drawing together family members. Putting our trust in our loved ones increases our courage to face challenges knowing that our family is always there to lift us from the ravine, and save us from all the tribulations that we face in life.
Unity is the product of respect, trust, and fidelity. A united family understands the minds and hearts of its members, thus creating an atmosphere of peace inside the home. In familial bustles, cooperation has its role. The family achieves the purpose of their endeavor from which joy and pleasure at work gush forth. In times of solemnity and quietude, a united family enjoys the order pervading the home. Confucius also imparted that order in the family is the essential building block of order in society at large.
And of course, the greatest of all virtues, love. Love is patient and kind…Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). Showing generosity to our brothers and sisters, care for our parents, fidelity to our loved ones, and forgiveness to those who offend us creates for family a perfect loving home. A loving family is incorruptible and indomitable. A living, loving family never fails!
These ingredients – respect, trust, unity, and love – will empower every family to build an edifice, a foundation, in order to make a difference in their communities, nations, and world. As Charles Dickens once quoted, in love of home, the love of country has its rise. I fervently believe that this love for one’s family could grow into a greater love for mankind, like a small pebble dropped in a quiet pond creating ripples reaching the edges of the waters.
I call every family to cultivate the morals of love, cooperation, piety, and trust, for God created us for a special purpose. Let us hold hands with our parents and children as we march our way to greatness!
Chroniclers of History, Paragons of Virtues, Catalysts for Change
On the seventh day, God the Creator of all, looked and beamed at the beauty all around. He stared at His steadfast sun, and glanced at His glimmering moon with all her star children scintillating with exuberance. He wandered around the flora and fauna that bloomed in jubilation. God went at the back of the first man, and He felt the loneliness of the man in the vastness of the great Earth. He thought with scrutiny, “I’ll make him a family!” God again “scooped the clay” and molded the first woman and children, and He joyfully endowed them with the breath of life, thus the beginning of the living family.
And family is born, and has since evolved, from the primeval clans that roamed the forests in search for food to the dynasties that ruled empires, from the fathers and sons who volunteered their lives in ceaseless wars to the devoted families that marched the boulevards, shouting for peace and freedom.
But still, one thing will never change in living families of all ages – the impact that they produced to their societies.
The family is the backbone of our world society. This special circle of living souls serves as foundation of cities moving ahead, and as witness to every transformation in society. Developments in civilizations can be attributed to the efforts of myriads of families. In Rome, the Gracchus brothers, Tiberius and Gaius, with their mother Cornelia, instituted various social reforms in the Republic such as the distribution of lands among poor farmers, enforcing laws regarding property limitations, and securing more rights for the middle class. During the Renaissance, the Medici family led the rebirth of classical culture in Florence, Italy, by building academies of art and literature and giving opportunities to artisans to develop their talents. Clans after clans ruled the Chinese empire in a dynastic cycle, bringing opulence and harmony in their people and making China the power that it is now in Asia. Filipino families also have their part in authoring our history and cultivating our culture. During colonial times, the clans of Rizal, Bonifacio, del Pilar, Luna, and Silang sowed the seeds of courage to fight for freedom, the same seeds being nurtured and brought to fruition in our days.
God created the living family for a special purpose – to design a better world for the next generations. Thanks to the efforts of the earlier families that contributed to the weaving of mankind’s future. But still, completing this vision requires the work of love from more families to serve as paragons of virtues to other families and catalysts of transformations. To fulfill this vested duty, the family and its members should learn the vital principles of respect, trust, unity, and most importantly, love.
The great Chinese philosopher Confucius emphasized the import of filial piety or respect and obedience to parents. Filiality is the foundation of virtue and the root of civilization. The Book of Ecclesiastes also presents the rewards of reverence to elders, especially to fathers. He that honoureth his father shall have a long life (Ecclesiastes 3:6). And even the primordial code of Hammurabi, considered the world’s first-ever law, describes the punishment of lacking this virtue. If a man has struck his father his hand shall be cut off. Different faiths, different theologies, but they all have the same concept of respect for elders. For us Filipinos, it is the heart-warming mano po that expresses this essential value.
Trust is the force that unites all repulsive entities. Trust serves as a magnet drawing together family members. Putting our trust in our loved ones increases our courage to face challenges knowing that our family is always there to lift us from the ravine, and save us from all the tribulations that we face in life.
Unity is the product of respect, trust, and fidelity. A united family understands the minds and hearts of its members, thus creating an atmosphere of peace inside the home. In familial bustles, cooperation has its role. The family achieves the purpose of their endeavor from which joy and pleasure at work gush forth. In times of solemnity and quietude, a united family enjoys the order pervading the home. Confucius also imparted that order in the family is the essential building block of order in society at large.
And of course, the greatest of all virtues, love. Love is patient and kind…Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). Showing generosity to our brothers and sisters, care for our parents, fidelity to our loved ones, and forgiveness to those who offend us creates for family a perfect loving home. A loving family is incorruptible and indomitable. A living, loving family never fails!
These ingredients – respect, trust, unity, and love – will empower every family to build an edifice, a foundation, in order to make a difference in their communities, nations, and world. As Charles Dickens once quoted, in love of home, the love of country has its rise. I fervently believe that this love for one’s family could grow into a greater love for mankind, like a small pebble dropped in a quiet pond creating ripples reaching the edges of the waters.
I call every family to cultivate the morals of love, cooperation, piety, and trust, for God created us for a special purpose. Let us hold hands with our parents and children as we march our way to greatness!
Someday, I would like to serve my nation and world and make a change in our people. As a start, I will develop even more the love for my home, my living family, and lead my family to write our country’s history as we witness the events, encourage other families as we serve as paragons, and catalyze societal change as we build a better Philippines, a better world.
posted by Renzo Guinto at
5:37 AM
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