Charity Begins at Home, Taken Too Literally by Us?

“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”
~John Bunyan

Since we were children our parents taught us to help the poor. They taught us the most important lesson of life and that is To Give. We grew up giving the last bit of the chocolate to that poor boy standing alone in the street or choosing within our old toys and clothes, the ones we could sacrifice for someone else.

We grew up some more and we started donating sweets and presents on festivals. We started “feeling” for those who were less fortunate. This continued until we started earning and had capacity to “donate”. Then our preferences changed.

We looked for OUR “cause”, OUR “people”, OUR “place”, OUR “satisfaction”. We forgot about selfless giving, the chocolates we shared and the toys we gave away to some strangers, not knowing who could be getting them. Did we choose back then? Did we go and see who played with our toys? Or did we ask that kid if he was less fortunate in a way that we want? No, right?

Then why did we suddenly become so selfish that we chose to give to our Religion, Our Country, Our Cause and so for so many other “specific” reasons! We forgot the whole point of Giving. Is it that poor girl’s fault that she is not from your country or religion? She is simply needy, she needs your help and if you can help her then there should be no second factor that should stop you except for a few ethical reasons. In the end it’s your call.

I like these words by Thomas Fuller-

 ”Charity begins at home, but should not end there.”