Article by Dr. Tunishai Ford
BEFORE YOU SAY, "I DO"!
What's In Your Family?
Getting to Know Both Families' Histories Before You Say, "I Do!"
Years ago, I listened to a radio program hosted by a very popular radio personality, well-known for his controversial subjects. One of the topics was about the importance of meeting each other's families before entering into holy matrimony. Several people called in to offer their opinion. The majority agreed that it is very important to meet the family of the one you are about to marry, especially the man's family since you will be taking on his last name. The consensus was that when you marry the man, you marry the entire family. This is stated figuratively, but it is true spiritually. When you marry, not only do you become one with him, you also become one with his family. This is why God admonishes man to cleave to his wife and leave his family (Genesis 2:24). It is up to that couple to declare and decree that all generational curses end with this new union.
Some couples have so many issues to deal with within their individual families that if they do not denounce these issues and discover its root cause, they are destined to repeat the behavioral, psychological, and emotional trauma that has plagued their families for many generations. Some families have a history of rape and incest, and others deal with a history of divorce and separation. Some are even as extreme as violence and murder. It is also important to look into a person's medical history. A good example is when both the male and female have sickle cell anemia on both sides of the family, the chances of their child having it is very likely.
The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation (Numbers 14:18, KJV).
You are probably thinking to yourself that all families have issues, but let me ask you this question. Do you want to go through the rest of your life married to someone and their family's issues? Statistically, many marriages end in