Lonely at Christmas Thread

[tifischer]

Merry Christmas!!! Offer this to God. Have you thought about inviting your neighbors for Christmas? Half the time I spend Christmas alone or any Holiday really. However, last year a lady at our church invited her neighbors and me for Christmas dinner. I had never heard of that and was reluctant to go but so glad that I did. I focus on giving gifts to others especially those less fortunate than myself. Maybe next year I could bring gifts to a retirement center or homeless shelter or maybe even family by God’s grace that would be a miracle!..who knows?

God bless!!!

 

[Greenfields]

Great ideas I think it’s a really good idea to start thinking now,and remembering during this next year ,how to be prepared for possible lonliness next Christmas.Be ready to have it different somehow so that you can avoid sadness and heartache .Well, even for Easter.I know I’m going to try and think and plan ahead.

 

[lilypadrees]

As I stated in another thread, the gift of time is priceless. Spend time with others and be there for them. Find out what they need. Let them know what you need. Get that support system around you and be supportive when others need it.

We don’t buy material gifts for one another anymore. If there is a need, we put it forward and take care of it. For instance, my mother has a lot of unpaid bills as a result of her fall last year. I didn’t know she wasn’t able to pay them. She was too ashamed to tell me how many she had.

The moment I found out, I helped her eliminate some of them entirely (the hospital she was in does a certain amount of charity each year and she qualifies for it) and got on the phone about another which had been turned over to a collection agency making it impossible to deal the original creditor directly. I am paying off that bill for her so she won’t have to worry about it.

Being able to help her out makes me feel better because I know her bills are being paid and it takes the worry and stress off of her so she can concentrate on making a full recovery.

And spending time together keeps us involved and less lonely.

 

[TheLittleLady]

Because of the nature of my work, I spend 50ish hours each week for work “being there” for hundreds of people (I get paid for 35 of those hours). I make sure that every holiday and every random Thursday is as perfect as it can be.

This includes organizing the largest outreach to those in need that happens in our community, from our own kids and shutins in our parish to the hidden people who are served by the local AIDS outreach and everyone inbetween.

For instance, last evening, I was so excited to attend Mass on Sunday evening. It was the rare evening when my husband was up to going out, I even took special care and “dolled up” and knew I looked as pretty as I could. I planned to get a photo of he and I together in the Church as the Christmas decor is still up. You see, I don’t know if he will be alive next Christmas because of his heart.

As I left, I received a text from the pastor. There was an urgent need for the Hispanic community. I worked for hours to pull that one out of my ear on New Year’s Eve (this is volunteer time, out in 18 degree weather, will never even get a Thank You for it), missed Mass and our plans for dinner. Ate a cold McDonalds hamburger and went to bed.

It is great that you find fulfillment in volunteering over the holidays. For me, to add yet more volunteer hours seems rather un-inviting. Even Jesus took time away from the crowds to spend time with his friends.

Anyway, this thread has served it’s purpose. I am happy to know that there are so few who are truly alone at Christmas.