#9: Thursday, 5 March, 2020
**Thursday, 5 March — Seeking the Messiah. Matthew 6:1–4**
This is a deeply personal reflection which I acknowledge perhaps should not be committed to print. However, the lesson learned was such a clear answer to a short prayer that it warrants sharing — fully aware that any merit earned is completely lost by disclosing it.
I sat down to read these four verses while frazzled and weary. After several poor nights of sleep and rising early for a 7:00 AM commitment, I prepared breakfast for my wife in the dark and settled with tea to begin the reading with just twenty minutes remaining.
Immediately my wife called out, requiring another cup of tea and a rice cracker with peanut butter and honey. Rather than grumble, I — aware of my caregiving role as my wife undergoes chemotherapy — complied without complaint. Upon returning to my study, I prayed: "Please give me some beautiful insight today. I'm just so tired."
Before the reading could begin, my wife called again, asking for the TV to be plugged in and the fan turned off. I rose again, completed the task, and returned to now lukewarm tea. A second prayer followed: "Please wring my soul and rinse my spirit to hear you now."
After a few sips, my wife's voice came once more: the television wasn't working. I discovered the plug connection was loose, fixed it, and we laughed together. I returned to my study with only-just-warm tea — never ideal, as I prefer morning tea strong and hot with two tea bags and not too much milk.
Finally, I prayed: "Well, Lord, I'll try this reading now. I'll just do a few verses, as I've got to leave soon. What do you have to tell me this morning?"
The reading opened with Matthew 6:1–4: "Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men to be seen by them. … when you give to the needy, do it secretly."
I smiled and said aloud, "Thank you."
Upon checking the calendar, I discovered the early start was actually scheduled for the following week — I had risen early unnecessarily. Yet, perhaps not entirely without purpose. I proceeded to write this reflection.
The Lesson Learned
The key insight concerns identifying where those most in need of kindness and care reside: within one's own household and family. Our spouses, children, and parents deserve our careful, kind attention, and God will be pleased by such care. There is no merit in being pleasant at work, generous to overseas missions and charities, or willing to go on short-term mission trips while being grumpy, irritable, and unhelpful at home with those we are specifically charged to care for.
Modern life creates super-stress, largely self-imposed. The greatest need for charity and kindness exists at home — in how we speak to our spouse, respond to our children, demonstrate patience and forgiveness, and share love and kindness with those closest to us. As Shakespeare wrote in Sonnet 73: "Love that well which thou must leave ere long."
No one outside the home will ever know of these gentle kindnesses. There will be no tax-deductible receipt, no flowers or thank-you cards, no Order of Australia from the Governor-General, no promotion or pay rise, no memo from a boss. Most kindness will go unnoticed — possibly even dismissed or rejected.
Yet, as Matthew 6:4 tells us: "Your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you."
Prayer
Please help me, Lord Jesus Christ, to grasp just how important I am to the people in my own family circle. Help me not to be short-tempered, irritated with them. Help me to behave as you would behave, if you were here. (Which, of course, you are, through me!) Give me patience. Quickly, please. (Sorry, that was just my little joke.) Help me to live out your love, in mercy, kindness, gentleness and grace. Amen.