*DAILY DEW 20/FEBRUARY/2023* *THE STUFF OF A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE* (III) _Key Bible Text:_ *"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, AND SHALL CLEAVE UNTO HIS WIFE: AND THEY SHALL BE ONE FLESH. And They Were Both Naked, The Man And His Wife, And Were Not Ashamed."* (Genesis 2:24-25 (KJV)) _Bible Insight:_ 4. Leave and cleave. To leave is to the husband while to cleave is to the wife. Actually both husband and wife must leave. And both must cleave. The husband no doubt takes the lead by leaving his former nuclear family. But the moment he cleaves to his wife, the wife too must leave her former nuclear family. So both leaves, and both cleaves. This practically should mean, considering your new home and spouse a new family and a priority. Your allegiance now lies with and to God and your spouse. All other family members, from both sides, have become third parties. So issues between you and your spouse must be treated within you and your spouse and God. No more uninvited third parties into your affairs. Even the times when third parties should be involved must be mutually agreed upon. Actually, from the moment you set your ship to sail, and the home and marriage is formed, choose a particular party, who can stand like a go to party when issues need to be escalated. That is to say, after all internal remedies have been explored and exhausted, then, take "leave" and take the matter to such pre-agreed third party. It is good to ensure that such third party is not a family member from either side of the spouse. It is better a non-family but a respected, spiritually mature and unbiased umpire and family mentor. It is not ideal that a spouse should still be reporting a matter to the other spouse's parents. Such practice is usually unhealthy and hardly helps issues, except for very few exception. Better to maintain a particular pre-arranged or pre-agreed third party who you mutually submit to, outside of the family members. Of course, telling your friends about your internal wranglings and issues should be avoided. Third parties do more harm than good. Thread with caution, and preserve the entity of your family and home. _MEDITATION:_ *"Issues of domestic violence and abuse, should be a well considered exception to the above rule of no third party to internal family affairs. However, the issue must be handled with care, maturity and wisdom"* *#David_Joshua_Egbochuo* *#Daily_Wisdom_for_living* *#Becoming_More_Like_Jesus* *#Wedding_Anniversary_Series* *#The_Rise_of_An_Army* *#Daily_Dew_Devotional* *#Hello_FEBRUARY,2023* ❤ Links To Visit: *FB Pages* https://www.facebook.com/DavidJoshuaEgbochuo/ https://www.facebook.com/thedavidgen/ https://www.facebook.com/THEREVIVALCORPS/ *Telegram Group:* https://t.me/joinchat/NzXQlVc9Hx7LfaRSnh9fHg Feel Free to Share with Friends. God bless you.