To me this is one eye-catching picture!!! Frankly, its nice to see a family expressing affection (even if it is only in the animal kingdom). From this picture, it is quite natural to progress to the human family. Today, it seems like the only time you hear about it is when there is something WRONG with it, but there are good families out there; not just in the USA, but all over this world!!! What is a family, anyway? The scriptures teach that it is a father, mother and children. So, we who do our best to follow God should get the pattern correct...
Ephesians, Chapter 5 (WEB)
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it; 26 that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, 27 that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without defect. 28 Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. 29 For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly; 30 because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones. 31 “For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and of the assembly. 33 Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Ephesians, Chapter 6 (WEB)
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with a promise: 3 “that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.”
4 You fathers, don’t provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Titus, Chapter 2 (WEB)
1 But say the things which fit sound doctrine, 2 that older men should be temperate, sensible, sober minded, sound in faith, in love, and in patience: 3 and that older women likewise be reverent in behavior, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good; 4 that they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be sober minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that God’s word may not be blasphemed. 6 Likewise, exhort the younger men to be sober minded; 7 in all things showing yourself an example of good works; in your teaching showing integrity, seriousness, incorruptibility,
Love, respect and co-operation might serve as a synopsis for the passages above. Notice also verse 31, 32 of Ephesians, chapter 5; God is there. Somehow, I am reminded of a TV series called: "Father knows best". This just seemed to fit, because our Father in heaven, really does know best!!!