PRACTICE: True or false “Charity begins at home.”
Anyone who has practiced the art or been around someone practicing the art of raising a child, know that they can go from being sweet cherubs to less than likeable, wonderful, and fearfully made beings in a moment, especially with their parents.
When our son was growing up, our families loved having him visit when he was on break from school. He cleaned up behind himself and followed the house rules – none of which he did at home without a struggle. His teachers were complimentary of his behavior – polite and helpful. Wherever he went, he was agreeable, well liked, well received, and always invited back. There were extended periods in our home where his behavior with others did not resemble our experience with him at home. We loved him but words like disagreeable, mouthy, uncooperative, and generally unlikeable were more applicable. In other words, he saw his behavior away from home as an exemption from his home behavior rather than an extension of it. He cared about what others thought of him but was secure enough in our love for him to not care. As parents, we marveled at this duality. It must have been exhausting for him.
Somewhere along the way, he returned to the person we were raising him to be, and we became the recipient of the behavior that the outside world knew and loved. His behavior with others and us became a true extension of each other rather than an exemption. He grew up. Thank goodness.
Who we are outside of the boundaries of our home ought to be an extension of who we are inside it – not an exception or an exemption - positive or negative? Charity really does begin at home, and it should not stop there. To be kind, compassionate, and generous with others while being mean, unkind, and stingy with those in our innermost circle is a form of hypocrisy.
As with our son, one learns as they mature that a certain degree of freedom is obtained when one can love and treat others (all others) equally. When we questioned our son about his public versus private persona, he said home was where he could be himself. It took love, patience, and some strong disciplinary posturing, to align the two.
Today what we and the world get to experience is a handsome, jovial, compassionate, fun-loving, and all- around great guy. His public persona is an extension of his private one.
Matt 6:1
PONDER THIS THOUGHT---My family would agree with other’s description of me.
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