God created us with an inherent desire for human companionship. Some people seem to need more socializing than others, but to some degree, it’s a basic human need for every one of us. I was pleasantly surprised to see National Cheer Up the Lonely Day on the calendar. It is celebrated every July 11th. A whole day dedicated to small acts of kindness for those who most need it … what a wonderful idea to get behind!

James 1:27 (KJV) tells us that, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

Who might fall into that category? The elderly immediately come to my mind. They’ve lived the majority of their lives with spunk and energy and now, as the later years slow them down, many of their friends and spouses have passed away. Family—if they have any to begin with—may have moved away or be unable to visit as often as they wish.

Perhaps you have elderly family members close enough to visit; maybe you don’t. If not, you might consider visiting a retirement or nursing home. I’d encourage you to take your children along with you. If you don’t know what you’d do or say, check out last year’s post from Ms. Sam for ideas on how to help your children start a conversation with their elders. They will learn the importance of valuing older members in our society, and you’ll find the faces of the residents simply light up when they see children.

If you have a gentle animal, check with the front desk to see if you can bring in your dog or cat (or even something more exotic) to visit, as well. Most nursing homes don’t allow residents to keep pets, and you’d be surprised at how many people miss animal companionship when they move to a care facility.

Maybe you don’t have a local home like that nearby. You might consider checking with a church in your area or an organization that reaches out to the elderly, and see if they maintain a list of shut-ins or older folks that need an occasional helping hand or simply a smile from a friendly face. (If your kids will be coming along, you might help them brush up on Ms. Sam’s tips for courteous behavior when visiting someone’s home.) Once you are there, what do you do?

• Offer to play a game with them. My grandparents used to love playing a board and marble game called Aggravation. They would always welcome anyone around to join in.
• Help them do things like change a light bulb, vacuum the floor, clean a bath tub. As people age, tasks that were once simple can become exhausting and even dangerous.
• Ask them questions about their family history, childhood, and earlier years. When it becomes harder for them to get around, some people sadly find the TV seems like their only friend. It can be a blessing just having someone to listen to their life stories.
• Take some cookies or another treat when you visit. Residents in a care facility may not have access to a kitchen. Others fall out of the habit of cooking—it’s just not as enjoyable to cook only for yourself! I know I wouldn’t do a fraction of the cooking I do now, if I didn’t have five other stomachs around here to fill.
• Take your children’s extra artwork along. My refrigerator doors are always littered with drawings. The extra art that clutters my kitchen would grace their bare refrigerator door for months, bringing them a new smile every morning.

We use A Reason For Handwriting curriculum. Every week, my children write their Bible verses for the week on a special page, then color a beautiful border illustration printed around the edge. The pages are perforated and can be removed to send in the mail, or given away to neighbors or friends at church. (Our blog sponsor, A Reason For, has generously let us share a special Border Sheet for Cheer Up the Lonely Day. Look for the download link at the bottom of this page, and have your children create their own masterpiece with a favorite Bible verse.)

Maybe there is a younger widow or recently-divorced friend living near you. When you’ve experienced the companionship of marriage and now find yourself alone, the weekends often get especially lonely. Give your friend a little bit of special attention. Take her to Saturday morning breakfast, spend a few hours thrift shopping together, or show up with a manicure kit and pretty new nail polish. You may never know how much it was appreciated.

There’s a good reason why God created Eve as a companion for Adam, and designed the family for raising children. We require special bonds with other people to feel complete. Invite lonely people into your home for dinner. You don’t have to live in a fancy house, or keep it immaculate to invite people over. Most people live in the real world where our homes don’t look like a page out of Better Homes and Garden magazine. It’s our intention to love people, not impress them. (Read more on “imperfect hospitality” here!)

Maybe God has given you a heart to reach those on the fringes of society. How about participating in a prison ministry? Many churches have programs you can join and correspond with the inmates in a one-on-one way. You can walk them through Bible studies and answer questions, or just check up on them every once in awhile and let them know you are praying for them. Show them that even though they’ve made mistakes, there is always room for God’s grace in their lives, that they matter, that God still has a plan for their lives. Maybe your act of kindness—accompanied by the grace of God—will inspire them to choose a better path when they’re released.

Maybe your summer is crammed full with activities. When you’re running back and forth with kids all day long, it feels impossible to squeeze in a visit to the nursing home. You can still pick up the phone and call a relative or friend who may be lonely. With the invention of Facetime, Skype and similar programs, it’s even more personal to talk long distances with someone who may desperately need that human interaction. It would only take up a few minutes of your day and could make the world of difference to that individual. Put a reminder on your phone that prompts you to call periodically, just to keep in touch with that person.

My life—like yours, probably—just gets busy. What we intend to do and what actually happens can be two very different things. It’s not that you don’t care; it’s just life. But loving people isn’t a feeling … it’s a conscious choice, and it can be as simple as giving a tangible expression of thoughtfulness.

I hope I’ve encouraged you to be the hands, feet, and mouth of Jesus today … to reach out with a kind gesture, and touch a lonely soul with the love of Christ. We need more of that in this world, not just tomorrow but every other day, too.

Download yours in PDF format today:
Handwriting Border Sheets - Cheer Up the Lonely Day