(KI from Kyoto Prefecture/70s/Female)
Kami has been teaching us the importance of conversation between a husband and wife. We were not a couple of few words, so we thought we had the conversation that Kami mentioned.
The Tasks That I Gained From Kami’s Teachings
My husband had been hospitalized with a lung disease, but he came back home for recovery. He could not eat well and lost a lot of weight and grew weaker. My heart ached for him. I had been thinking what I could do for him all day every day.
The answer was in Kami’s teaching; “True health lies in a home with harmony.” And I thought I needed to make a home with harmony, and to do so, having true conversation is necessary…. Then I realized we spoke with reserve and did not talk opening up about our honest feelings, but ended up in small talks.
Break the Shell of Our Kokoro
I spoke my thoughts honestly to him: “I want you to live a long life with me,” “I want to share our thoughts with each other.” After a while, he gradually poured his heart out, “I want you to listen to my thoughts….” One day, my husband said, “Stop talking about that topic,” but I could calmly accept what he said because I thought it was a sign of facing each other. When I said, “I’m sorry, I talked too much. I was just worried about you,” then he said back, “Well…. I understand you are supporting me very hard. Thank you.” I was so happy to hear that from him.
We talked about our two children too. We realized that we let them feel lonely by making excuses of being busy. Also, we reflected on the past that we had strongly wished them to take over our business, and that made a distance between our kokoro. We thought it was time to face our children once again. We apologized to them about what we had done to them, and I asked them to support their father together. The answer from them was “Okay.” The reply was very reliable.
After all, they often call and come to see us. We share our thoughts in consideration of other’s feelings and have conversations that care each other. For us, it is a miracle. It is wonderful that I feel the courage to live welling up when I hear their voices and see their faces.
Becoming a True Family
My husband became a member of Shinji Kyōkai. He said he wanted to learn Kami’s teachings because he wants to live the rest of his life happily with his family. At every opportunity, he says “Thank you” and “I can do this because you are here.” I see calmness in his face. Moreover, he started being able to eat because he gained a strong will to live from his family that wishes him to live a long life. I am filled with gratefulness.
Every morning, we read The Ten Basic Teachings out loud and kigan to Kami with gratitude. That is how we start a life. I am truly feeling a happiness. My husband’s disease was a trigger to bring back a family tie. And it is a miracle that we could become a true family.