“When will I get accustomed to being alone?” my friend asked.
My newly-widowed friend told me she was having a hard time saying “I” when she had used “we” for forty years. I assured her she would gradually speak with singular pronouns.
As one with seven years of widowhood on the calendar, I told her everyone’s timetable differed. The quiet and aloneness are always present, but she would slowly develop her routine and add activity to her days.
Eating alone is one of the biggest challenges singles face. Cooking for one when recipes are designed for four servings means eating leftovers for days. My friend Lucy, who never married and is now retired, finds this season of her life quiet and difficult.
God places the solitary in families, but not unless we extend the invitation and place them in our home.
When I moved to a new community, people at church invited me to their homes or out to lunch. On the first Sunday of each month, a group of widows meets for a potluck lunch in one of our homes. Our group is a family—the family of God—and God has placed us together.
My husband and I once invited singles to our home for holiday meals if they couldn’t travel to see family. They enjoyed being around our children, and our girls witnessed the value of extending hospitality to others.
Make a list of people you know who are alone. Especially those who can’t reciprocate. Invite them to have coffee with you in the warmth of your home or host a meal for them.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
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Marilyn Nutter, of Greer, SC, is a contributor to magazines, on-line sites, and compilations. She is a Bible teacher and speaker for women’s groups, a grief support facilitator, and women’s ministry team member at her church. In her life’s seasons, she has met God’s faithfulness and clings to Lamentations 3:22-23. Look for her blog at www.marilynnutter.com to find extraordinary treasures in ordinary and challenging days. You can contact her at marilynnutter@gmail.com.