Be A Friend To The Lonely

My kitten, Osha, tried to be inconspicuous the other day as she blended in as one of the ornaments on the Christmas tree.

Can you find him?

I couldn't help but laugh. But it also made me think of how many times we try to be inconspicuous because of past hurts, insecurities, guilt, or fears. We just want to sit at the back of the class, stand against the back corner of a room, or sit in the back pew of the church, hoping that the teacher, the pastor, or God doesn't notice.

But sometimes, something surprising happens: someone notices us, even though we tried very hard to conceal ourselves. It seems out of nowhere a stranger comes to speak kind words of care and interest. He/she lovingly encourages us to feel more part of the group by saying, "Come join me and my friends over there".  Or maybe he/she just sits down beside us, and pleasantly and genuinely tries to get to know us through conversation. Then, when it is time to leave, the thoughtful person invites us for tea, lunch, or dinner at his/her house, making us feel even more special, welcomed, and valued.

This is the will and heart of God: for us to notice a hider, a loner, a stranger, and a lost soul. God does not want us to comfortably stick with our group of friends. Instead, He desires our eyes to constantly be on the look-out, seeking out those who are in need of a friend.

Let's each of us open up our hearts on a daily basis to be aware of our surroundings and the possible needs of the people around us. If we do, God will use us mighty to bring healing and life to the lonely souls in our society.

The Bible says that a person standing alone is easily attacked and defeated, but a person who has a friend can stand back-to back, and together they can conquer the enemy. A person who has two friends has an even better advantage.

"A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated,

but two can stand back-to-back and conquer.

Three are even better,

for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."

Ecclesiastes 4:12

Be a friend to one who is friendless. Those who already have many friends don't need more. As Christians we need to resist the temptation to comfortably be part of a clique and not look outside of our group of friends and associates to see someone who is in need of a friend, a companion, and an ally.