Charity Suffereth

Every year as Christmas approaches, we see more requests for charity. But what is real charity? This story is not original to me, although I do not remember where I first heard it. Following is my own version, along with some thoughts written for a C.E. a couple years ago. Is it charity to toss a handful of change in the Salvation Army bucket? It might be. But charity also may mean to give a part of yourself you've never thought of before. 

    There was once a woman, we’ll call her Marge, and her two daughters who lived along the main street of a small village. Marge and her daughters were well thought of and faithful church attendees. It was a beautiful Sabbath morning when one of Marge’s daughters looked out the window.     
    “Oh, look!” she called, “Look who’s headed to church!” Her sister hurried to see, and both girls began laughing.
    “Look, Mom, it’s Mrs. Wilson and all her daughters!”
    “And they’re all wearing aprons!” volunteered the first daughter.
    Marge looked out the window, too. Sure enough, there was Mrs. Wilson, the wife of the town drunk striding purposefully down the road with her three daughters following. Each was wearing a clean, though patched, apron. No one had ever heard of any of the Wilsons attending church. Indeed, the entire community had a way of steering clear of the Wilson family. They weren’t heartless toward them, exactly. Just avoided them.
    “Imagine! Wearing an apron to church!” giggled the second daughter.
    Marge didn’t say much as her daughters continued to scorn the spectacle. She just finished washing the last plate from breakfast.
    Soon it was time to leave for church. As her daughters opened the door to leave, Marge silently handed each of them an apron. The horror showed clearly on her daughters’ faces. “Mom! Do we have to wear them? Why?”
    Marge answered calmly, “Mrs. Wilson and her daughters have never been to church. They don’t know that we don’t usually wear aprons. We want them to feel comfortable and welcome to worship with us this morning.” With those words, Marge gave her daughters a gentle lesson on the true meaning of charity.
    We all know the verse well, “Charity suffereth long and is kind…” but how often do we really think of the first two words? Charity suffereth. Charity is not measured by how much money we give to a cause. It’s not graded according to how much time we spend volunteering with a fun group of friends. Those things may have a certain worth, but a heart of true charity will be willing to suffer.
    Charity that suffereth is born of humility. It is made up of unselfishness and self-denial. It has nothing to do with being a recognized volunteer, but it has everything to do with treating others, regardless of social status, with respect. Charity that suffereth has less to do with money that we give, but more to do with how we make the recipient feel.
    Charity is not the warm glow we get from seeing our name listed with other volunteers. Charity is hours of back breaking labor with no recognition. It is denying ourselves of something we want and sending a check to friend that is struggling to make ends meet. Charity is accepting an invitation from someone that struggles to feel accepted and putting your heart into enjoying the time you spend with them. And sometimes charity may mean wearing an apron to church.  

As this year draws to a close, I want to take a step forward in charity. I want to move from knowing to doing. I want to open my heart wide enough that I am willing not only to give, but to suffer. Will you join me in the journey?