Luke 14:13-14: “When you give a feast, invite the poor, the lame, the maimed, the blind. You will be blessed because they cannot repay you: for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
There are so many lonely people in our society, and even in our churches! Single people, the divorced, kids without fathers and more! Depression and suicide spike at this time of the year.
There are many people who have no family or are estranged from their family or have strange families! Even within our churches, there are divorced people, single parents, widows and widowers.
Last week, I went to the bank, I asked my teller if she was prepared for her Thanksgiving celebration. She looked down and said, “things are different this year.” She told me, her children will be with their father this Thanksgiving. From what I understood, she would be alone. I invited her to my home. She turned the invitation down but was appreciative. I asked her if I could pray for her and did so, So many lonely people all around us!
It is very painful to spend the holidays alone. What can be done?
Ask God to show you lonely people, the fatherless child you see playing on your street, the elderly neighbor down the block, the singles in your church. Not all singles want to spend the holidays at Cracker Barrel with other singles! I for one love being around children and would gladly accept an invitation to spend the holidays with a family!
I love to serve others I remembered someone from my church worked with the homeless. I called her. She told me, this was the first year they were feeding the homeless on Thanksgiving and they needed help!
I spent most of Thanksgiving helping to set up lovely tables with china and serving chicken and dressing, potato salad, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie! My favorite part of the day was getting to know the patrons and listen to their stories.
Open your home and heart, to a lonely person, take your children to serve in a place like The Chattanooga Rescue Mission or visit a nursing home. The gift of your time and presence can change a life! Perhaps, even yours!!!
