the remedy must begin at home

The modern interpretation of the word charity is love. Essentially, love or charity means being other-centred. We find ourselves when we lose ourselves and are liberated from the selfishness or self-centredness that controls most of us most of the time. We find a new life when we begin to do for others, what we wish they would do unto us.  That is the golden rule. We need to have care and concern for each other’s needs and wishes, understand each other’s faults and weaknesses along with appreciation of what is good and nice in each other. Spiritual leaders have told us that our care for others is the measure of our greatness. We also need to bear each other’s burdens and serve others willingly and voluntarily. We need to be generous, but more importantly what matters is not how much we give but how much love we put into that giving.   

These and other values and virtues have eternal value and we do not have to leave them behind when we go to the grave. Such heartwarming and heart-felt thoughts come to mind as we mark the United Nations International Day of Charity early next month.