Years ago a friend of mine at my local gym came upon hard times due to a health issue. He was saved from literally being on the streets by his brother who paid his mortgage until he returned to work. I know a recently-divorced mother whose parents will assist her with childcare expenses until she adjusts to her new economic reality. My parents and in-laws helped my wife and me early in our marriage. Now we are able pass on help to our children and other relatives. When I was a little kid, none of the older guys messed with me, because my older brother was tough and would settle scores. This is what families do out of obligation in order to survive and to thrive in the face of life’s challenges. It is called frith.
What is frith?
Frith is an Old English word that is often translated as peace. It means much more than serenity or a lack of conflict and warring. It also means protection, safety, security, autonomy and refuge. Your ancestors overcame war, famine, disease, tyranny, religious persecution, economic collapse, migration and other tragedies of life because they practiced frith. Frith is a relationship of mutual selflessness within your immediate and extended family. Families and clans of pre-Christian Europe commonly practiced frith, but over time it was replaced by public welfare and church charity.
Frith and honor went hand in hand. If you abandoned frith you abandoned your personal honor and your family’s honor. Your principle responsibility in life was to enhance the honor and fortune of your family. This responsibility still remains your fundamental obligation.
What are the advantages of frith?
Financial Security
Frith grants many advantages to you and your family. It ensures financial security within your family. If hard times visit you, frith obligates your family to help you while you get back on your feet. Likewise, you are obligated to do as much for those in your family when they suffer hard times. This can get complicated and messy, but it is necessary and required of you by frith if you and your family are to be an honorable and strong family.
Psychological Wellbeing
Frith assures your psychological wellbeing. More and more people in the West today experience elevated and sometimes crippling levels of anxiety and depression. This is the result, in part, of socially isolating and anti-family policies promoted by our modern institutions and economy. When your family practices frith you never have to worry about being alone. You live physically, psychologically and spiritually within the embrace of a group of people who will never abandon you – your family.
Moral Strength
Within frith you become morally stronger. You are accountable to a group of people who share with you a genetic and cultural affinity who want what is best for you. This begins with your parents, but extends to uncles, aunts, siblings and others within your family, including your children. What is best for you is best for the family, when frith is practiced properly. And what is best for your family is best for you. For this reason you humbly receive and offer accountability to your family members.
Respect for Ancestors and Descedents
Frith instills in you reverence for your ancestors and a desire to secure the best possible future for your descendants. You should pause often to be inspired by the memory of the love, care and strength your deceased loved ones and distant ancestors demonstrated when living and preparing the way for you. Likewise, frith compels you to improve the fortune and reputation of your family, so that your descendants might flourish. They will have greater security and influence when they arrive upon the scene.
The Northern Way calls you to practice frith
The modern social safety net is a poor substitute for frith. Government programs and religious alms cannot replace the physical, psychological and spiritual gift that frith offers a noble, devoted family. The Northern Way calls you back to the practice of frith as a proven way to build and sustain a strong family.