Don’t be lonely this Christmas
Don’t be lonely this Christmas! In 2013, Campaign to End Loneliness surveyed 1,000 UK General Practitioners (GP), i.e. doctors looking at loneliness and health in their patients. Here are some of their findings:
- Over three quarters of the GPs we spoke to said they were seeing between one and five lonely people a day.
- One in ten doctors questioned reported seeing between six and ten lonely patients a day.
- A small minority (4 per cent) said they saw more than 10 lonely people a day.
Christmas is usually seen as a family time. In the UK, for example, the long, dark, cold wintry days seem to exacerbate loneliness. Coupled with the fact that there is no public transportation on Christmas Day, it is all too easy to be ‘stuck’ indoors all alone if you have no ‘family’ to spend the day with.
With just under 2 weeks to go before Christmas Day it is time to act now.
#1 Does your church family know?
Don’t assume that people in the Church know or remember that you live alone. Or that you may probably be spending Christmas on your own. Don’t get offended either if no one asks too. This is the season of peace among everyone so don’t go looking for things to make you upset. Speak to your pastor, vicar or priest. He/she is your father/mother in Christ, the shepherd of your soul. Maybe they can offer some help in linking you up with a family or even round at their home. Or the church can arrange for some help for you. Don’t be pushy either!
#2 Don’t overlook the charities
In the UK, there are quite a number of charities that are reaching out to people who find themselves lonely this Christmas, especially for the older generation. Why not do a Google search and see if you can locate one. Look up Crisis for example and see what they are doing. Speak to your GP/doctor/counsellor. They may be able to give you some contacts of places that are hosting Christmas lunches. Don’t see these places as a homeless gatherings, but an opportunity to make new friends.
#3 How about your family?
Sometimes we are lonely because of family feuds that have lasted decades with neither side refusing to budge. Sometimes we can’t even remember what the feud was all about.
Christmas can be a time of high tensions because of our expectations. Maybe one member of the family never returns your visit and you’d rather be ‘on your own’. Don’t eat and swallow those words.
You only have one life so make sure you enjoy it…and make that life stress free too! Kiss and make up. Reconcile with family members.
Loneliness affects us and is a breeding ground for all sorts of thoughts to plague our sound minds! Don’t give room for it. Make the phone call now and ring that long lost brother. Remember the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). When the son came to his senses, rather than face poverty and depravity, he got on his feet and reconciled back to his father. And ending up with his father throwing a big feast for him.
#4 Invite someone
How about inviting someone else round? Someone that may be spending Christmas on their own too? You don’t have to be an amazing cook or chef? You can do a buffet style Christmas dinner. You can draw up a list and agree what each can contribute towards the dinner. One friend for instance could bring the drinks, the other the Christmas pudding, and you could do the Turkey! Hey ho, before you know it, Christmas dinner is served and you are all having fun. No-one in truth really cares if the potatoes were overcooked. It is all about company and Christmas cheer. Make that the focus and you will have a great Yuletide!
Have a wonderful Christmas! And please share the love in this post by forwarding on!
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