It Needn’t be Lonely this Christmas

I recently read online:

He had 950 Facebook friends, 560 Twitter followers and 83 fellow members of his WhatsApp group. But outside his ICU ward, he had only his wife, children and parents, people for whom he never had time to spend because of his busy life. His imaginary, online social group offered no comfort when he really needed it.

We seem to be suffering from a dearth of friendship in general, but this time of year is famous for its feelings of friendlessness. Charities estimate that half a million people in the UK will feel lonely this Christmas. Some are older folk, deprived of partners, or with children too busy to care. Some will be younger people, feeling excluded by peers. Some have families and friends around, with the attendant chaos and din, but still feel lonely in the midst of the crowd. 

My prayer is that we use this time to further know and love the families and friends providence has allotted us. But more than this. May we begin to know and love Him whose company we were created to seek and enjoy, He whose incarnation we this day commemorate. Christ, whose enemies described as the ‘friend of sinners‘, this day calls out to the friendless, the lonely, the failures, the screw-ups and the wretched. He offers us a feast of companionship and love, promising to never leave nor forsake His friends.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6