The first requisite in life is that peace reign in our household.  To establish peace in our household we will have to win the hearts of every individual, big or small.  When peace is established by force it isn’t peace, but a regime of terror.  Divinity is born out of the peace founded on love.  Peace and tolerance are born when we learn to control our mind and emotions.  We should try to deal with every family member with love.  If we seldom consider the feelings of others and only concern ourselves with our own state of mind, disagreements, friction, and dissatisfaction are born.  If we are agreeable with others, they become agreeable with us.  Instill the love of God into your family.  Without surrender and service, love cannot evolve.

The Distracted Husband

Once there was a scientist who spent all day totally involved in his research work.  He couldn’t remember if he ate lunch, or took a shower.  After observing this strange behavior, his wife decided to intervene.  When it was time for his shower, she went into his study, took him by the hand, and without uttering a single word, gestured to him to get up.  The unexpected visit startled him, and with great surprise he recognized that it was his wife.  He laughed and asked her sweetly.

“What do you want me to do?”

She didn’t say a thing.  But like one leading a blind man, she led him to the shower.

“I’ve already showered!”  He said.

“You showered yesterday, not today,” his wife replied.

At lunchtime, when she took him to the dining room, he again expressed his surprise.

“Why have you served me this meal twice?”  He asked.

“Yesterday you fasted; you didn’t eat anything,” she replied.  “It’s noon now, and this is the first meal you’ve been served.”

“Thank you.  Thank you.  You’re taking good care of me,” he said.  He affectionately tapped her on the shoulder and expressed his pleasure.

A few days later, his wife took him to the dining room and left him after serving his lunch.  Some friends came to visit her and they spent two hours talking.  When she returned to the dining room, her husband was writing something on a piece of paper.  He had forgotten to eat his lunch.

Upon seeing this, she became angry and snatched the pen and paper away from him. “How strange you are!”  She said, scolding him.  “Your lunch is cold and now I have to reheat it.”

He looked at his wife’s angry face and at his meal.  He understood the situation and he acknowledged his offense.  Then he took his plate of food and put it on his wife’s head.

“What are you doing?”  She asked.  She thought it was some sort of joke.

“I’m warming my lunch,” her husband replied.  “Your anger is so hot that my lunch will be warm in a short time.”

She burst into laughter and her anger melted away.

To love is to suffer.  When love becomes tolerant, fragrance spreads from it and the heart of the beloved overflows with joy.  If the lover can’t tolerate the anger of the beloved, then that love is about to be shattered.