Faith Filled Family Magazine December 2016 | Page 33

season that brings out the best
of people. They come out of the
woodwork and those in need
are showered with love and attention they lacked the other
months of the year. Some people give clothes and food away
to organizations or volunteer at
a food kitchen, but there is so
much more Christians can do to
help make the holiday season
special to those in their sphere
of influence. Christians don’t
have to give their time or goods
just to strangers, but can help
those they know and love because there are those in need all
around the church family.
Giving and helping others this
holiday season as Christians
need not be out of compulsion
but out of love for others. 1
John 4:7 says, “Dear friends,
let us love one another, for love
comes from God. Everyone who
loves has been born of God and

knows God.” When there is love
for everyone, yes even enemies,
stemming from the love of God,
there will be an inner desire to
help others, not out of duty, but
out of compassion. There are so
many individuals and families in
need, there is no way to not give
enough.
A
ccording to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2015, 13.5 percent, or
43.1 million people in the U.S.
lived in poverty. Wow, that is a
large number. For instance, the
Census Bureau reported a family of four (two adults and two
children under 18) in 2015 live
in poverty if they had an income
below $24,036 a year, compared
to the median income of the rest
of the U.S. at $56,516.
The statistics for homelessness
is striking. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, in January 2014, there