Charitable impulses

Today’s Sunday School lesson was on Charity. Not the “giving money” kind, but the “pure love of Christ” kind. The message I carried away is that to truly be charitable we need to care about the welfare of others more than our own wants and sometimes even above our own needs. (Not always above our needs because we need to take care of ourselves too.) I sat listening to the lesson and remembering how just prior to the lesson I was accosted in the hall by a fellow mother who had been asked to sit with Gleek’s primary class. Two adults are necessary to make sure that class doesn’t erupt into chaos. But this other mother also had a 2 year old who wouldn’t let her go. She was faced with the prospect of sitting with wiggly six year olds while managing a clingy two year old. I could tell she was hoping I’d volunteer. I didn’t because sitting with Gleek’s class is not high on my list of fun things to do. Besides, I reasoned, I needed the spiritual refreshment of listening to the lessons.

I listened to further discussions on Charity and realized that no matter how annoying it would be for me to sit with the class, it would be harder on this other mother. I was putting my desire to be away from my kids above hers. This other mother is also pregnant and I doubt she gets breaks from her kids during the week the way that I do. Someone needs to be there for the kids. Someone needs to teach them how to behave and help them learn. I realized that all these things were greater than my desire for a peaceful hour or two. I quietly went to relieve that mother.

I sat with Gleek’s class. Predictably, Patches left his class and came to sit with me. Gleek and Patches were both so glad to have me there. And because I was there by choice rather than coercion, I did not mind being there at all. I’m sad to miss my own lessons, but honestly I think I got the lesson I needed for today.