Loneliness Can Be A Springboard

Some think loneliness and poverty go hand in hand, but loneliness is present in the most privileged positions. Princess Diana was said to be lonely, living in luxury, but feeling unwanted, though people around the world greatly admired her. The lonely souls in poverty just have more to deal with, like how they will feed and provide for themselves and their children. Neighborhood self-help groups, church outreaches, and free group therapy sessions may give them the help they need to get back on their feet. This should be a priority for Christian singles and all others who are plagued by loneliness and depression. First turn to help others. In fact, when we reach out to others, we forget about our own troubles and focus instead on uplifting them, thereby, helping each other. We can visit lonely neighbors, especially seniors, or make it a habit to speak a warm, encouraging word to a shy person, or witness for our Savior, letting others know He is ready and able to help them. Build their hope by letting them know He is so warm and loving, and it doesn’t matter what we’ve done, for our Beloved Lord has already paid for all sins, past, present, and future on the cross. In fact, they have already been paid in full. All we have to do is reach out and gratefully accept His free gift! He did not come to the Earth to condemn it, but to save it!

You may have heard that babies who are not held and touched develop a “failure to thrive syndrome” and may die as a result. The elderly have the same need. If you have a grandmother, one of the nicest things you could do for her is hug her, and ask if you could rub her back or brush her hair, like you did when you were little. Remind her of happy times when you both were younger and when she generously lavished attention on you and gave you unconditional love. If she was like most grandmas and grandpas she was rarely too busy or tired to do something special with you.

Dag Hammerskjold advised that you “Pray that your loneliness will spur you into finding something to live for, great enough to die for.” Well, finding something to live for and great enough to die for is a ‘no brainer’ for the Christian single! A hurting world is just outside the door, waiting to be helped, encouraged and introduced to our Savior, who promises to stick closer than a brother and His offer is open to anyone, whosoever will may come to Him and will never be cast out. Even as we struggle to overcome our own loneliness, the Lord will give us the strength to reach out to a lonely neighbor or co-worker and this will lift up our own spirits, as we help someone else along the way.

Lonely, battered women find solace in shelters where they can talk with their sisters in group therapy. Then they can begin to mend their broken lives and find friends and new hope for themselves and their children. We should not be impatient if they cannot sever ties with their abusive mate right away, but try to understand that their minds have undergone powerful manipulation, and their value denigrated. Keep them and their children in your prayers.

According to psychologist Jerry Greenwald, “We all respond to those who are nourishing, and genuinely nourishing people will not be lonely” How true it is that the more we help and console others, the better we feel, too.

Well, sweet Christian brothers and sisters, as you let the above encouragement help you see that there definitely is a way out of your ‘time of trouble’, relax awhile and prepare for your coach’s dose of happiness and laughter. Let me tickle your funny bone! And allow Mark Twain’s observation help you to get perspective. “I’ve been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened!”

“Love can sweep you off your feet and carry you along in a way you’ve never known before. But it always ends and you end up feeling bitter. Wait! It’s not love I’m describing. I’m thinking of a monorail.” Jack Handey

The devil visited a lawyer’s office and made him an offer. “I can arrange some things for you” the devil said. “I’ll increase your income five-fold. Your partners will love you; your clients will respect you; you’ll have four months of vacation each year and live to be a hundred. All I require in return is your soul.” The lawyer thought for a moment. “What’s the catch?”, he asked.

Christian singles – What is the oldest profession?

A physician, an engineer and an attorney were discussing who among them belonged to the oldest of the three professions represented .The physician said, “Remember, on the sixth day God took a rib from Adam and fashioned Eve, making Him the first surgeon. Therefore, medicine is the oldest profession.”

The engineer replied, “But, before that, God created the heavens and earth from chaos and confusion, and thus, He was the first engineer. Therefore, engineering is an older profession than medicine.”

Then the lawyer spoke up. “Yes”, he said, “But who do you think created all the chaos and confusion?”

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A doctor of psychology was doing his normal rounds when he entered a patient’s room. He found Patient #1 sitting on the floor, pretending to saw a piece of wood in half.

Patient #2 was hanging from the ceiling, by his feet.

The doctor asked patient #1 what he was doing. The patient replied, “can’t you see, I’m sawing this piece of wood in half?” The doctor inquired of patient #1

what patient #2 was doing. Patient #1 replied, “Oh, he’s my friend, but he’s a little crazy. He thinks he’s a light bulb.” The doctor looks up and notices Patient #2’s face is going all red.

The doctor asks patient #1, “If he’s your friend, you should get him down from there before he hurts himself.”

Patient #1 replies, “What, and work in the dark?”