Lent V: The Baseline

And if you greet only your brothers and sisters . . . 

 - From Matthew 5

Greet only your brothers and sisters. Some people don't even do that.

In recent years, perhaps because of my advancing middle years, I have heard accounts of the fractures that occur among siblings, following the death of one or both parents. Disputes over their parents' estate; some not pulling their weight (in the care of the surviving parent), etc.

It must be easily assumed that the Lord expected us to naturally give preference to our siblings.

Someone once told me that her friends would forever be closer to her, than her siblings, cousins, etc. I argued that, as you get older, your friends will be drawn more and more to family. Because . . . when the chips are down, the best of us will feel the call of duty, to care for children, parents, brothers and sisters, cousins. You can say no to a friend, and there would be no scandal. But let it not be said, of any of us, that we turned our backs on family.

This person argued with me. Her friends would certainly always be there for her, as she would be, for them.

Shortly thereafter, events transpired with the health of some of her friends, that made it clear she was going to have to rely on family as the years wore on.

The baseline of kindness is - are you kind to your own family? God placed family into our lives. It's a natural, automatic training ground for unconditional love. "You can't pick family." Well then . . . let your devotion to godly love be tested and forged by making the easy choice: I will take care of family.

Okay, that's the starting point. Now you have hit the baseline.

Now . . . treat others; treat strangers, as you do family.

Now you're getting the hang of it.

Just another thing to reflect upon. Since it's Lent.