The Golden, or is it Platinum Rule?

Or "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."  Why is this such a difficult concept to act upon in our daily lives.  Are we so focused on ourselves?  Do we suffer from some type of memory loss?  Are we immature?  Do we really care?

I have to admit that this rule is simple to understand but it is difficult to actually live by in many ways.  I always strive to live by the Golden Rule but I know I don't always succeed because of my sin nature:  Self Preservation is what I like to call it.   I cannot even imagine how this world would be if everyone treated everyone else like they want to be treated.

My first thought is what if someone's treatment standards are less than mine.  I don't want them to treat me like they treat themselves or allow someone else to treat them.  My rule would have to be something more precious than gold.  How about platinum?  We should rename it the platimum rule!  So we should treat others better than we would treat ourselves.  Yeah, I like that!  Now I can live with that.

When attempting to abide by the Golden Rule, most people end up treating people like they "feel" the person deserves or expects to be treated.  I have been treated this way by family members and strangers alike.  I remember growing up in a single parent home (with aunts and grandmothers of course).  Oh how devestated I was the day that I learned that my grandfather had been giving my cousins $20 each for their birthdays instead of the usual $5 that I received!  I was sick!  Why would he give them more?

It was years before I really understood why.  Well my uncle and his wife were firmly grounded into the African American middle class at that time.  They definitely had more money coming into their household than we did.  My grandfather actually thought that he was being fair by giving them more money because they would be expecting more.  Wow, what an eye opener that was!  Then it took me another few years to try and understand the reasoning behind that belief.  I eventually gave up because I realized there was no "good" reason behind it.

I loved my grandfather and definitely don't hold any grudges against him because of what he did.  He believed what he was doing was right at the time.  However, that is not what I believe or want my children to grow up believing.  I want them to live by the Platinum Rule by treating others better than they treat themselves.  What a marvelous concept.  It's a win-win situation for all sides.

Are you a Golden or Platinum Rule Follower?
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