Essay on Charity begins at home

   

Essay on Charity begins at home

      Charity means an act or attitude of kindness, generosity, or benevolence, usually expressed through some kind of help in the form of cash or kind. The help is usually extended to those who are needy or are suffering and is motivated by the feeling of sympathy, pity, or compassion.  

        The saying 'charity begins at home ' really means that our first duty is to help our family. Our family should have the first claim upon our benevolent act. Our resources in the form of money, materials, energy, or time should be used to help the members of our family first. If we extend the meaning of the word 'home' the saying will guide us in the matter of the order in which our resources should be used to help the needy. The first to deserve our help is, of course, our family. Then, if we have extra resources, we should use these to help our village, our district, and our country, and so on. 

        The truth behind this saying is easy to follow. We owe most to the family in which we are born and brought up. Our second duty is to our village or locality since it has provided the necessary environment for our growth. The area or district in which we have been brought up and our country which is our motherland have the next claims upon our resources. 

        Like all other sayings, this saying, too, is a half-truth meant for broad general guidance only. We should not adhere to it strictly or blindly. otherwise, all acts of charity in times of natural calamities like floods, the earthquakes. etc., or for some good cause within the country or even beyond the borders of one's country would cease, The saying merely reminds us of our duty to our family. It tells us that while we help others, we should use discretion Having regard to the resources which we can spare, we should decide whom to help first and whom to help next. For example, if I win a lottery say of rupees five lacs, I would provide for my family members first. But, then, I would help the local school in which I studied or the local hospital in which my parents or other family members were admitted but could not get proper treatment for want of sufficient facilities. 

        Lets us properly understand what the adage says. It only says that charity begins at home. It does not say that it ends there. So having begun from our home let us extend our helping hand to those who are in need or distress - whoever they are and whatever they are.