I chatted to a lady who waited for the one,
Waited fifty years, but he did not ever come.
I spoke to a widower, marriage was all he’d known,
He dreads returning to an empty home.
I heard the desperate cry of a single mum,
Through her smile and her words, she was clearly undone.
I saw a girl all dressed up with her make-up on trend,
Who is one of the “populars” but has no real friends.
The ageing mother whose children moved away,
Waiting patiently for a visit, a call, to share in their day.
The father who lost everything, dwells in regret,
Lives for the days he’s granted “access”.
That boy who is bullied but is told it is banter,
Devalued, feels worthless, suicidal disaster.
The lady battling chronic illness each day,
Makes plans, has to cancel, her friends drift away.
The unruly teen, he was brought up in care,
Rejected, alone, not belonging anywhere.
The guy who’s abrupt, rude, and aggressive,
Living in a world not designed for his perspective.
The one who is life and soul of the party,
To get through each day pops pills like they’re smarties.
Bravely battling cancer to be told there’s no hope,
Defeated, fearful, at the end of their rope.
Sat in his wheelchair, unable to speak,
Longing for company, not just carers all week.
Missing school, and her childhood, she carries the burden,
Caring for her siblings as her mum’s health worsens.
Loneliness has many faces,
Different causes and found in many places.
The world has seen a shift we’re told,
Loneliness is not just an issue when we’re old.
What can we do to bring about change?
To bring a touch of heaven to our earthly domain?
We’re called to be Jesus’ hands and feet,
To bring light and hope to all who we meet.
To show them they matter, are valued, seen, and heard,
That we don’t just talk the talk but are true to our word.
God said it’s not right for man to be alone,
We are created for community, a welcoming home.
Each face may be different, they may be the same,
But please remember they are more than just a name.
So, with arms opened wide, assumptions set aside,
Let’s show them they belong to our family, the family of God.