The Melinda Channel

My question for Yeoshua and Mary Magdalene: What would you have us know about helping others during this holiday season? I see people with cardboard signs alongside me at street lights and I’m not sure I’m helping them by giving them money so I don’t. How do we know who to give to and where to give so that we can help out our fellow human beings?

Hold out your hand to another in need...

Yeoshua: This is a good question. Many of you have become jaded by seeing all of these people with their hands out. These, for the most part, are not the people who really need your help. There are many brave souls who try to make it on their own with no one’s help. It is these people who truly need a helping hand. They are trying on their own merits to make it in this world and the helping hand up is better than a hand out.

So, a homeless shelter is a good place to start. Buy some blankets, hats, tube socks, gloves, scarves, hooded sweatshirts, and head down to the nearest shelter and hand them over or hand them out yourself. Prepare grooming kits with toothbrushes and toothpaste and a hairbrush. Create some sack lunches if the homeless shelter allows this. Or just work in the soup kitchen. Help out however you can. Involve your children. Show them that the way of God is to help others in need. We have heard too many stories of those people willing to take handouts who don’t really need it. There are many, especially right now, who do need it. For those of you who can spare a few dollars this Christmas, buy a few supplies and drop them off. You will feel lighter of heart just knowing that you helped someone. Make sure your Christmas list includes the unknown man, woman, or child who is hurting and needs your helping hand.

Bring supplies to a homeless shelter...

Mary Magdalene: There are many children living below the poverty level in this country and I know that is difficult for many of you to believe but it’s true. Check out your local shelter and you will see children there. Averting your eyes from this does not solve the problem. These are people who were living on their own but due to the loss of a job or a car breaking down or a medical bill, they could no longer make it work financially. Many are hard-working people and many have kids. Go to a toy store and buy an extra toy for a child this season. You’ll be glad you did. And don’t forget the older kids—there are many pre-teens and teenagers who will have a bleak Christmas without your help. Take a few minutes to help a stranger. What goes around comes around as they say. It’s called karma. Namasté.