The Golden Rule

“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.” Matthew 7:12

My eldest child is a creative person who had really BIG ideas and loved to direct the play as often as she could. Most of the time, the younger two went along happily with her ideas at home, and she became used to leading the game and having things her way. Believe me, we knew when the other two pushed back and tried to impart their ideas...and it needed careful coaching and mediation to help our strong-willed child accept new and different ideas. As parents, those times were hard work and tiring, but we could see the value in taking the time to nurture the growth of fruit that we wanted to see in her – namely care and respect for others.

When she went to school, the learning didn’t stop – in fact, it increased as she quickly found that people did not always want to ‘just run with her ideas’. She needed to learn how to compromise, take turns, listen more and share ideas with her friends. I’d like to pretend that she did this easily, without any bumps or frustrations, but it was far from that. It was hard for her and for us, as we encouraged her to apply THE GOLDEN RULE to her life, considering others’ needs above her own and helping her to be the best friend she could be to those around her.

Thirty years on, history is repeating itself – and I see our grandchildren needing to learn this same rule as they learn about friendships, living in community and sharing God’s love with those around them. Now I listen to my child impart wisdom to her children and I recognise that it continues to be a hard lesson, one that is ongoing and one that needs wisdom as we support our little people to positively navigate life and relationships.

It’s the same here at DCC.

This week, we have begun our week thinking about THE GOLDEN RULE, found in Matthew 7:12. If we want people to show care and respect to us, Jesus teaches us that we must first show care and respect to those around us every day – at home, at school, at netball, at chess, in our neighbourhoods, in the yard.

Jesus showed us how to live well, honouring the people around him by showing care and respect to all. It takes commitment and it takes courage. It needs encouragement and it needs support. Sometimes the lessons are learned quickly, at other times lessons are slower to learn and apply. Let’s do all we can to model, encourage and coach our children as they learn to live by THE GOLDEN RULE each day.