Christmas spirit; Love of children; Panhandlers

Christmas spirit

Parents of a baby leave their native land to escape an unjust tyrant who has ordered all newborn males to be executed. Refugees in a new land, they wait until it is safe to return.

This story appears in Matthew, the first book of the Gospel of the New Testament. The child was Jesus, the parents Joseph and Mary. The lesson: Show compassion to the oppressed and provide them with safe harbor.

On Christmas Eve, we shouldn’t submit to fear.

While there are those who would appeal to our darkest instincts, let us remain true to what it means to be a Christian: loving and forgiving.

As Jesus’ ancestor David wrote, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.”

May the spirit of Christmas be present in all of God’s children!

Love of children

When I went to Sunday school as a child, we learned the following:

Jesus loves the little children

All the children of the world

Red and yellow black and white

They are precious in his sight

Jesus loves the little children of the world

I think that he still does.

Panhandlers

Good for City Councilwoman Gyna Bivens. It’s time someone took charge of the professional panhandler problem. (See Dec. 13 story “Panhandlers need to be shamed, Bivens says.”)

This has nothing to do with homelessness. Food and clothing are plentiful and available to those who ask.

Bivens is talking about the people who drive up in their cars like they’re going to work and spend the day in an area asking passers-by for money. They can become belligerent and are sometimes dangerous.

The word to all people who give money when approached is to ask if it’s to make themselves feel good, or is it to actually help? If they want to help, their money should go to an agency that has experts who know if a person is addicted, mentally ill or a victim of abuse.

Don’t be an enabler for bad behavior. Point the panhandler to the shelters.

This story was originally published December 23, 2015 at 5:06 PM with the headline "Christmas spirit; Love of children; Panhandlers."