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It's the most wonderful time of the year!
Is it, though??
We have recently celebrated Thanksgiving during a pandemic. Family gatherings were to have been very small gatherings. People were not supposed to travel very far, or they should quarantine if they did go very far away.
During the next few weeks, the season of Advent prepares us once again for the birth of the Christ Child, born in a manger, born to save the world from sin. Sometimes in the midst of everything going on in life, we might just forget "the reason for the season" and concentrate on the less important things.
I am also very well aware of many families who have lost a loved one during the past several months to COVID-19 or cancer or another health concern. There are many lonely people in this world right now, missing their loved ones so very much.
"Reach out and touch someone" was the slogan of AT&T many years ago, but it certainly rings true (pardon the pun!) even today. We really DO need to reach out and tell people that we love them and care for them and wish them a blessed holiday season -- and see if they need anything.
We can't tell how people are feeling simply by their outward appearance. Some folks can certainly disguise the fact that they're lonely and hurting and need someone or something.
During the next several weeks, it is our desire to contact every member of First Lutheran Church by telephone to see how they're doing. When you're on the phone with someone else, you can't necessarily see loneliness in their eyes but you can certainly hear loneliness in their voice -- and perhaps they will share how they're feeling with the caller.
Be reminded each and every day that God does NOT want his people to be lonely, but he wants them to feel loved and supported and uplifted and to know full well the blessings of Christmas.
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