Christmastime can be a most enjoyable time of year. People deck their halls with boughs of holly for ‘tis the season to be jolly. Families gather together to eat, drink, and be merry. Even dysfunctional families seem to have enough fun to want to repeat it year after year or why would they keep coming back for more? However, for some, Christmas can be the loneliest time of year.
My heart goes out to the lonely of the world. Past studies show when people feel socially isolated it affects their behavior and health. Feelings of pain and hopelessness lead to depression. Not only is loneliness detrimental to one’s health, it is also contagious. A new study conducted by John Cacioppo of the University of Chicago shows that lonely people tend to transmit their feelings of isolation to friends, neighbors, and family as they move to the fringe areas of society. Sadly, those who have a lonely friend are 40 to 65% more likely to feel lonely. Loneliness doesn’t necessarily mean you lack connections with people, but the connections you have don’t satisfy. That’s why some people can be lonely in a crowd and some can be all alone, but not lonely.
Understanding what Christmas is really about can ease loneliness. Christmas is more than pretty presents, decorated trees, twinkling lights, and even family gatherings. Although these are all wonderful, they are peripheral compared to Christ being born and dwelling among us. Not only did Christ dwell among us, but he came to live in us – if we let him. You might say that Christ was God’s Christmas present to the world. He came for everyone, but especially the weak, broken-hearted, and lonely.
You see, the true meaning of Christmas is summed up in one of my favorite Christmas quotes by Taylor Caldwell. “This is the true message of Christmas: we are not alone!”
