Alone and Hurting at Christmas Time

Are you tired of the Christmas ads yet? You know the ones that show happy families together for the holidays, having the best time of their year, not a care in the world, and surrounded by those that they love and love them.

Unfortunately, this is not the reality of many people during the holiday season. Many will be alone, hurting, and depressed. The holidays only seem to magnify the emotional pain that people live with. Why is this, you may ask? It's because the commercialism of Christmas starts in October with advertisements and movies that depict these perfect families and preach the message that the holidays are all about being with family and those you love.

If that is what the holidays are all about, then what do you tell the women who just lost her husband to cancer, or the orphan who has no family. What about the couple that has just divorced and the kids who are caught in the middle. We live in a broken world and for a lot of people Christmas is the worst time of the year because it only points out how alone people are.

So if you are one of the hurting , lonely people in the world, what can you do to make the Christmas more bearable? First, remember the true reason for the season. Jesus was born for this hurting, lonely, broken world. It's really not about family, Santa, presents and togetherness at all and that has been invented only as a distraction from the true meaning.

Secondly, Remember that Christmas is just another day of the year and in the western world we totally go overboard on it's significance. Spiritually, emotionally, and even physically so much energy is spent for just one day. This is silly when you think about it. Most of the people in the world do not celebrate Christmas as we do. Christians in China don't even have the option. Jesus wasn't even really born on Christmas day and it's way better to remember and be thankful for His birth all year long than on just one day.

Last, give back this Christmas. Find somewhere you can be of service to someone in even worse circumstances than you. Let them know that they're not alone and that someone cares about them. This seems hard, but it will be really rewarding if you make a little effort.

If you happen to be one of the lucky people who will be surrounded by loved ones this Christmas, then why not look around and open your family up to someone that will be alone during the holidays. There are tons of ways you can help people and instead of just giving your money, give of your time so that some hurting soul can feel a little love this holiday season.

To all the hurting, lonely people this Christmas I close with telling you that you're not alone and many understand how hard it is this time of year. Keep perspective on the whole thing and it will be over before you know it.