Celebrating your wedding with you
HELLO Mutare, its 2018 and we want to celebrate your wedding with you. Makorokoto! Amphlope! Congradulations!
If you want us to showcase your wedding in the Manica Post, please contact us so that we come and take pictures of key parts of your wedding for publishing in this column. You will also automatically be entered into the Bride and Groom of the Year competition.
Yes it’s true! We want Manicaland and the rest of the nation to celebrate with you through your wedding photos. Text or call Ann on 0772933845 or the Editor on 0778175925 for booking or more information.
This week’s question: Who is more important at the wedding, your parents or the Man of God?
I have been seized with this question for weeks because the line is very thin and if handled improperly, can cause offense on both sides. However, I will not shy away from questions asked by our faithful readers, and will answer the question objectively.
It is crucial to highlight the importance each party in the couple’s life — prior and after the marriage. It is factual to state that some couple did not grow under the care of their biological parents, and relied on Man and Woman of God to parent them. But there are also some heads of churches that abuse their position by turning couples away from their parents.
Biological parents or guardians
Biological parents are the reason you are on the world, and for that alone, you need to respect and honour them. There was a price your parents or guardians paid from the day you were born. There was an educational, a financial, relationship, religious price and physical price to pay. They had to make crucial decisions in life based on the fact that they had you. They would have edu- cated and given you life skills or guidance as far as they could. Whatever happened as you grew up is something else, especially if they disrespected or ill treated you. But think of those foetuses that were aborted and did not make it to this life. But you are here, getting married. No matter what mistakes your parents may have made, leave it to God to judge. You are alive and getting married and in some way, your parents had a part to play in, whether you agree or not.
Spiritual parents
Life is not only about material, but also spiritual things. The head of your church whether called a Priest, Pastor, Elder, Reverend etc is what we call a spiritual leader. Spiritual parents are there to give guidance that is meant to help to balance the physical and spiritual life. Their key guidance should be based on your spiritual belief and how it relates to the God or deity you worship.
If a spiritual parent believes that the biological parent or guardian is abusing or misusing the child or person, they have a right to step in and takeover.
This may or may not be accepted by the biological or guardian parent. In life rifts and offenses exist, and before you know it, the couple will usually choose the stronger one to side with (usually the spiritual parent).
Conclusion
Whatever your thoughts on the matter, and no matter which parent you feel is more deserving of honour; if you are having a church or Christian wedding, the right thing to do is to honour your biological parents or guardians, especially when lobola is involved.
But on the other hand you also need to give your spiritual parents honour and respect because possibly the reason you are getting married (doing the right thing) is because of their guidance. Both are equally important and must be respected.
But in my opinion, your biological parents or the people who nursed you up must be given highest honour, followed by the Man and Woman of God for their religious guidance.
Do what is right in the eyes of God. You do not honour people because of their character or because they are nice to you. You have to honour them because it is the right thing to do.
Until next week, God bless!
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