(SS from Ibaraki Prefecture/Female/30s/Music Instructor)
I am in an international marriage, and we started living together with my mother in Japan. My mother and my husband were both gradually feeling uncomfortable living together, and tensions were building up due to language barriers.
Since my father had just passed away, I thought I have to support my mother, and her happiness had to be the priority. However, when I attended a class at the church together with my husband, and learned the fundamental aspect of a family is the wife and husband. I realized that the relationship with my husband is the most important thing for me. When I look back at my conversations with my husband, I started to wonder if I had said enough of my feelings to him.
I asked Kami for my feelings to be anchored so that I can help and support my husband as a wife, and make more effort to have conversations to understand each other better. Although many things happen every day, our thoughts always come together in the same direction, which makes me feel confident to overcome any hurdle. I now understand that the difference in language does not matter to practice the teachings. I also came to realize that it is more important to show my mother that my husband and I are happy together, rather than to do everything to make her happy.
The relationship between my husband and my mother is gradually getting better. My mother even said she is glad that we are now able to have open and honest conversation in the family. I am very happy and grateful to learn the teachings and practice it as a family.