change in our family life than anything else was the Bible truth concerning family headship. The Bible principles at Ephesians chapter 5, verse 28, and Eph chapter 6, verse 4, were made plain to me, and I came to see that I was responsible for much more in my family than I had been accepting. It was clear that I must take more interest in my wife and my children. After commencing to do this, I found that my family life became so much more interesting. We now have so much in common. How the children responded to the care and interest that I showed them! Really, this was God’s blessing for my willingness to make adjustments to comply with his Word.

“Also, my wife gave me full support as I accepted my God-given responsibility of guiding and correcting the children. As I mentioned a few minutes ago, I used to spend much time with the men of the neighborhood, talking and joining them in their parties. Well, that’s all in the past now, and I don’t feel I am missing out on anything. This improvement in my family life has given me time to enjoy my family in relaxation too, and now I appreciate just how much I was missing!”

“We have certainly enjoyed hearing you tell us about these changes that have come about in your life, Samuel. But I have another question I would like to ask you. As we passed through the village and its surrounding fields, we noticed very few men of working age, either around the houses or out in the fields. Where are all the men?”

“Most of the men from this village are away working in the towns and cities. You see, work in the towns brings much more money than work here in the country. But after a man comes to appreciate the importance of the family circle through understanding Bible principles he becomes more balanced spiritually. Several of the men in our congregation used to work away from home. However, since giving up that work and returning to live here they have become much stronger spiritually, and their family life has greatly improved. This has taken real effort on their part and trust in Jehovah, but they are glad they made these changes. We are too, because we now have them with us regularly at all our meetings in the congregation.”

The time of our visit has passed quickly, and we must now depart. On our return journey to Salisbury we reflect on the tremendous amount of good that would result to families throughout Africa, and in every part of the earth, if they would only stop long enough to learn how the Bible can improve their life together.

Adam’s Rib

The Bible says: “Jehovah God had a deep sleep fall upon the man and, while he was sleeping, he took one of his ribs and then closed up the flesh over its place. And Jehovah God proceeded to build the rib that he had taken from the man into a woman and to bring her to the man.”—Gen. 2:21, 22.

Some persons have wondered whether this meant that Adam was short a rib, thus being incomplete. No, it does not mean necessarily that Adam lived his life with one less rib than he had when he was created by God. The rib bones, unlike others, can replace themselves. In a reply from the University of Berne, Professor K. Lenggenhager commented in this connection, saying:

“I can inform you that a rib, that has been removed, but whose periosteum has been left, forms itself again [or grows again]. If, however, the periosteum is removed along with the rib, the bone then does not renew itself. Usually, when ribs are removed in surgery, the periosteum is preserved, except in the case of malignant rib tumor.”