Loneliness is as lethal as smoking 15 cigarettes a day! Read that again. Loneliness is as lethal as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
According to the US census Bureau, the US has over 329 million people. My state of Texas has almost 30 million & my city has nearly 875 thousand people. With all those people, why would I ever feel lonely? We are literally surrounded by people, yet loneliness has become an epidemic in our country!
I read a quote years ago that has really stuck with me. It said something to the effect of “The worst feeling isn’t being alone; it’s feeling alone in a room full of people” and I can truly relate to that.
I just recently went through a 2-year period of time where I had people all around me, and yet many times I felt lonely around the very people I shouldn’t have felt lonely around. I was going through the hardest time in my life in dealing with my mom’s failing health, moving her from her hometown to live near me in a memory care facility, & watching her decline then pass away. Sometimes I just truly needed a break from work, caregiving, and the stress of my reality. I needed a friend to say, “I know it's hard right now- let’s hang out for a few hours...we're going to go paint!”. {if you read my last blog post I explained how healing art can be.}
My own experience made me wonder if there were other women out there who needed an evening out to get a much needed break like I had needed.
I know it’s a lot to expect out of a paint party business, but if God has formed this business, allowed me to go through such loneliness myself, and has given me a heart for women who may be lonely or don’t feel a sense of community, then he can surely bring the women who need the extra friendship & encouragement. I’m the one who sets the tone & feel of my events & I hope everyone who attends leaves feeling better, uplifted, and like they made a friend.
So, come to a paint party and call that friend who’s going through a hard time, invite that neighbor whose husband isn’t home, or your coworker who just moved here. When we give our lives to God, we may still feel lonely at times, but we are never truly alone! Let’s share his love with the lonely world around us!
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
Have you ever experienced loneliness? Leave your comments below.