WHILE getting my hair cut, the staff at FHC were planning how they would celebrate 25 years in business this October.

Each staff member has committed to an activity that will raise money for St Michael’s Hospice. This started me thinking about charity.

Charity entered the English language via French from the Latin “caritas” which means love.

In the KJV charity, rather than love, is used to translate the Greek “agape” which means a selfless, as opposed to selfish, love.

The most well known example being; “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity”. 1 Corinthians 13:13.

The thought is of “love focused on the wellbeing” of others, which is a beautiful description of the charitable acts we see around us.

Selfish people may claim charity for themselves saying; “charity begins at home and should stay there”.

However, the evidence proves that when charity begins at home and then flows to others it brings great joy to those who give and those who receive.

–Graham Owen