Charity beginning at home and spreading outwards

I love the way these Lent posts have opened up debates and discussions. I had a great comment from emeraldreeve last week and wanted to share it.

"I see charity as a rock in a lake. The ripple starts with one individual {the rock :)} and should gradually spread outward in ever widening ripples. Take care of the poverty in our neighborhoods and then you and they can reach out to the town, then the town can reach out to state, etc. An army that gets ever bigger."

I like that, and the idea that we shouldn't forget the people in need who are close to us.