We all know the story of the creation of Eve. Adam, The first man, had noticed that all the other animals he named had a companion that resembled them; one 'cut from the same cloth’ so to speak. He, on the other hand, was set apart in that regard so he felt lonely. Adam must have gotten into some trouble as God concluded that it was not good for him to be by himself, without someone to be a check and balance for him. Right early on, it seemed that man needed to something outside of him, but from within him, and near his heart, in order to help him reflect on himself. God then proceeded to put Adam to sleep, took a rib from him and created a woman.
A heard someone teach about that one day. As he was advising a young man who took issues at what he considered his wife’s annoying little 'imperfections’, the teacher said something like, “Just like Adam, we should act like if we were ‘asleep’ to our wives’ annoying little imperfections.” While some women might find that statement patronizing, I would suggest that it should apply both ways. Instead of getting frustrated, impatient, or even embarrassed at each other's annoying little ‘imperfections’, especially when they occur in public, we should let it be part of each other, ‘part of the family’ so to speak.’ When we have learned to accept and assimilate imperfections in each other, the surprise effect of the negative reactions should be left to strangers, those not in the ‘family’. What helps us do that is the honest realization of our own imperfections which we usually feel totally comfortable to live with. I heard similar advice given by a midwife to a man who couldn’t bear to see his very badly deformed new baby girl. Among other things the wise midwife told him, ‘... the surprise effect is for strangers; for foreigners. In time your daughter will not look like a foreign sight anymore, but she will look as beautiful as all your other children.’ Time is our friend. It can do wonderful things for a marriage, a family, a company, a team, a group, a society, especially when we allow it to do ‘it’s thing’ of blending us together as we daily rub shoulders together.
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