One marries, has children, grandchildren & even greatgrandchildren. But many who marry, don't have kids,

for many reasons. Some of their own making, some because they can't. They live their lives watching other

peoples children grow, and thank friends & family for "sharing their kids" with them.

The thought & words are nice. But when the holidays roll around, the never married, the divorced, the

widows & widowers go to church alone, & home again to eat alone. As those who lent their children to them,

get lost in their own family thing, which is totally expected & accepted by everyone. Even by those who

are alone.

Their Holiday meals are simple, as who makes a whole turkey or ham for one? Who wants a TV dinner?

It just sceams YOU ARE ALONE!! So, oatmeal, toast, or maybe a burger made by ones self to eat alone,

No yams, cranberry sauce, no stuffing, no laughter, no screams of joy from children, or jokes & stories

of what the kids did over the summer... just silence. A holiday special on TV where famlies are happy,

or having a hard time for whatever reason dones on in the background, ignored by the lonely one.

It's not that family & friend want to forget them. Their lives are full of so much going on. After all,

they have kids, grandkids, ect. to think about. They think of their friend when they send off a card

with the news letter of all thats happened from one Christmas to this one. The lonely family member

loves those cards as they are finally in touch with the family or friends, Smiles as they read the news

letter full of accomplishments of things done, cute things said, and if your lucky the lonely one gets a

photo as well.

The lonely ones, all over the world, have faded into the background. They have become invisable to

those who see them everyday. To those they speak to on the phone, and end each conversation with

"I love you". They are so used to seeing them without family, they forget they were once part of their

family. Be it a brother, sister, inlaw, friend... they are now alone. One of the forgotten ones.

People see them every day, never once thinking of asking them to join them at their holiday meal.

After all, dont we always have to much to eat? Dont we always have so many left overs? So why does

the lonely one remain lonely? Why is it we dont see these people? Why is it so easy to forget a

family member or a friend?

Life happens around us, as we slowly forget those we love, as we slowly forget those alone, as we slowly

forget those who are alone, who after many years on earth as a couple or part of a family, has now

become singular. Alone. One. One person, who is loved by many, but has become invisable because our

lives are full of love & joy that we once said we would share, but forgot & allowed this person to fade

away. Slowly from our embrace.

Please dont let the loved ones in your life, become part of the ones who like a pair of favorite jeans

that have become worn & faded & tossed aside for new ones. those people like those jeans were there

for you when YOU needed them, don't allow them to fade away. be there for THEM now that they

need YOU.

This is a good time to ask, "What would Jesus do??"

Susan Marie Willems 2010