Luke 22:26

Master Cold-Rice

He that is the greater among you, let him become as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. Luke 22:26.

In a royal or titled family it makes a big difference whether you are born first or second. The king's eldest son succeeds to the throne. The eldest son of a nobleman gets the title and the largest share of the estates when his father dies, while the younger sons may have a very much smaller share, and be even rather poor. In families that have not titles and property there is not much difference between older and younger children. Indeed the younger children often have the best time, because the eldest is expected to help to take care of them and to be responsible for them.

But in some countries it is different. In Japan, where they have rules for everything, they have very decided rules for the position of the different members of the family. The Japanese are a very polite nation, and are very particular about proper behavior, not only in society, but at home. As soon as a baby can run about he is taught good manners. He learns how to bow properly, and how to behave with respect to his elders. And he has a great many elders, for there the members of the family live together even after they are grown up and married and have children of their own. The wives must obey the husbands, and all the women in the family must obey all the men. Not only must the children obey their grandparents and parents, and all the older people of the family the aunts and uncles but the younger brother must obey the elder brother, and the younger sister the elder sister.

It used to be tradition the younger must always give in to the elder, and at meals must be helped last. But the very little children did not have to wait. So an unusual name is given in Japan to the second son. He is called “Master Cold-Rice.” This is because it is supposed that as he has to wait till all his elders and also the babies have been helped, his rice will not be very hot when he gets it.

Now there is a little parable in this name. In every family there are times when one must give way to another, and be content with the second best instead of the best. This is what we may call eating cold rice.

If you notice you will very often find that in some families one boy or girl never offers to give up to others, and is never expected to do it. Why? Because everybody knows that he will make himself so disagreeable that they would rather make a sacrifice than bear his crossness and unpleasantness. Perhaps there is a picnic or an excursion. Everybody cannot go. But nobody supposes that he will be the one to stay.

If he is playing a game, he is never pleased unless he has the leading part. At table he wants the nicest of everything. He always has the most comfortable chair, and he demands the first turn to read the new magazine. It becomes a family habit to let him have what he wants, because it is easier to do so than to make him give up. But he is not a boy anybody loves. He grows more and more selfish, always grasping at what he wants, and never thinking of others. He may succeed in life, but it will be a poor kind of success, not worth having, and he will have few friends.

Now, it is worth while thinking who generally eats cold rice in your house. You will notice that there is one person who is always ready to give up. If anyone has to stay behind, she thinks she does not want to go. If there is anything you like very much, she likes you to have her share too. And you will notice that, as often as not, that person is Mother.

But is it right that the unselfish people should always have to make the sacrifices? There will always be times when somebody must do it, but in future, instead of saying, “I don't see why I should have to do that,” suppose you say, “Somebody must do it, why should not I?” Take your turn at being Master Cold-Rice.