Comments on: Home Alone for the Holidays

By: Brenda

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:27:11 +0000

Andrea, I so agree that reaching out is a wonderful way to overcome loneliness. For years, I was too frightened to reach out to others, and I felt too poorly about myself to do so. It was only in allowing the Love of Jesus into my heart that I was able to overcome that fear and begin to truly see the world and people in a different way. I also was able to see myself as Jesus sees me, in a very positive light, the Light of His amazing grace.

Larry, I pray that you will seek the Lord in the midst of your pain, as I, too, once felt that no one cared. I have since discovered that a great many people care, and that discovery began with seeking the Lord. If you are suicidal, I agree with Claire that it is so vital to call the emergency contacts she provided. Your life is so valuable and worth living, Larry! I also encourage you to check out the following link to learn how you can begin a personal relationship with your Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who loves you so very much and most definitely cares about your life:

http://powertochange.com/discover/faith/discoverpurpose/

May God bless you with a rich and full life complete and whole in Him, Larry.

By: Claire Colvin

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:08:22 +0000

Larry, Forgive me if I'm totally reading into things here, but when I read your comment and saw, "But I have come a long way and do not see many days ahead for me any more." it worried me. Are you saying that you don't plan to be around much longer? If you meant something else entirely, then please feel free to ignore this, but I can't take the chance of thinking that you might be considering ending your life and just leave the comment unattended. If that is where your head is, you need to find some help. That is a dark and scary place to be and as someone who has been there also, I can tell you ending your life is not the answer. Loneliness is a horrible thing but I disagree with whoever it was that told you that in the real world no one cares. I don't see that. I know I have definitely experienced times when it felt like that, but there are people in the world who care. There are people who care about men and there is definitely hope for you to find someone who cares about you personally. If you really are thinking that there might not be much worth waiting around for, please call a suicide hotline - 1-800-784-2433 in the US, the hotlines go by province for Canada. Elsewhere in the world you can find a hotline through this site. Suicidal thoughts need to be taken seriously, because they are serious. It's not progress to decide that life is not living, but things can and do get better when you get help.

By: andrea

andrea — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:08:38 +0000

To: Jamie-Thank you for putting into words that according to Francesca I didn’t word quite appropriately. As a Christian, I was raised to always put the less fortunate before myself. I have perfect strangers in my home for Thanksgiving, Easter and Christmas dinners and celebrations. I have gone to nursing homes and fed seniors whose own families were too busy to spend time with them. And you know what? I would rather do that and walk through the rest of my life knowing that a small act of kindness helped someone else out rather than worry about whether my family is going to invite me or think about me for Christmas. Christmas comes on the same day every year. We have a whole year to plan on what will happen on that day. Make your own happiness-and please commit a random act of kindess-you will feel better for it. God bless you all and take care.

By: Jamie

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 23:28:20 +0000

One of the things that I have found is that when you are feeling lonely it can turn around if you look for ways to reach out to other people. That could be inviting people to your home or going out and volunteering at a soup kitchen or food bank. When you are serving others it opens up your life to new relationships and blessings.

By: Ntombi Dube

Ntombi Dube — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 07:21:22 +0000

i wish to encourage everyone who felt left alone during Christmas. You know what? With God you are never alone. Everytime I am left alone I always say, ‘ thank God because I regard that time as my special moment with my Father. If you haven’t experienced that you haven’t know a thing. It’s soothing to have your quiet time, shard things with your Father in prayer. Talk to Him. He will never ridicule you instead He comes up with things you wouldn’t know. I wish you can try this once and experience something different in your life. If you believe in God and I believe we all do, then turn to Him for whatever challenge you face. He is love. He cares. He reaches out. He whispers good and positive things unto you. Acquaint yourself with the Word. Try it please. You will never regret. When anything negative said to you know it’s not said to you but to your Creator. Our Father says, in His Word “You are the apple of My Eye”. Check Psalm 105:15. He is always there for you Ref. 1Peter 5:7. Enjoy each and every moment in Him. Remember you are never alone.

By: cari

cari — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 06:47:41 +0000

Hi Francesca, I could not agree more the lack of compassion made me feel very sad,and Larry some people do care they are not with you in body but are in thought.

By: Francesca

Francesca — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 23:27:20 +0000

Andrea,
Thank you for your thoughtful and kind approach to lonely people around the holiday season.

By: larry

larry — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 23:03:05 +0000

I am unmarried. I have no one, no friends here and an uncaring family. I spent another xmas alone. I sent out xmas cards to people I know far away. But on this end nothing was received. No calls, no emails. Nothing. As with every year. Few know just how badly I feel inside, how much it hurts. But as I was told long ago by someone. She told me that in the real world, nobody cares. After many years of trying to convince myself otherwise I have to admit she was right. Nobody cares and nobody certainly cares about men. But I have come a long way and do not see many days ahead for me any more. I just look forward to the day when this hurt can end forever. I hate xmas and the holidays. Loneliness is a horrible thing but it is all that i have ever known.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 13:56:06 +0000

Jeff, just read your email and I can honestly say that I know how you feel! I am alone with my children (3) after suffering a divorce here in the U.K. My parents are dead and I have no siblings so I feel very alone at this time of the year. I am very close to my children whom I adore, but still there is a feeling of loneliness, with no other adults present. I think that it is sad that Christmas has become a time when families “close their doors” to other people and have become so selfish. I found your comment about Jesus very uplifting. It is about Him. I was just thinking he was excluded too. Hopefully, the situation in which we have found ourselves will make us more aware of the needs of others and in turn better, more caring people.

Every blessing and good wish for 2012
Karen

By: andrea

andrea — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 13:52:25 +0000

What do you people do the rest of the year when you are alone and have little or no contact with family or friends? Anyone of you have any idea how many senior citizens are sitting in nursing homes all alone because their families are too busy to go see them or pick them up for a home visit? Give yourselves a shake and get over it. It’s one day a year that’s been over sensationalized to the nth degree. If Christmas is so important to you, have it in July, invite your family, friends, co-workers. Put a tree up, buy a gift for everyone and make a turkey dinner. You would be amazed how quickly it turns people who you thought were cold and uncaring into wonderful human beings.