Inspirational: TIS THE SEASON OF LONELINESS

by: Linda Kirby/WGON 11.24.25

Long before computers and social media, loneliness was already a quiet epidemic. I remember how the elderly were especially affected. Many would order items from catalogs and magazines—not because they needed the products, but because they needed the brief conversation with a delivery person at the door. That fleeting moment of human connection was worth the cost.

Then came computers. I got my first one in 1995—late to the party, perhaps, but early enough to witness the explosion of online chatter. People gathered in forums, comment sections, and game lobbies, often more interested in conversation than the activity itself.

And then social media was born.

To me, social media is dangerous in many ways. But for the lonely, it offered a lifeline—someone to talk to, someone to “friend.” Yet these digital friendships rarely become real unless you can meet in person. And most of the time, that meeting never happens. I recall one case where a young woman, conducting an experiment, showed up unannounced at her online bestie’s house. She was met with rudeness and rejection. Her presence had invaded a comfort zone that was never meant to be physical. The online “friendship” dissolved instantly.

Even then, society was shifting. People didn’t want physical closeness—they wanted connection on their own terms. I suspect many had real-life friends and simply sought anonymous companionship to pass the time. But the elderly were different. They weren’t looking for distraction. They were looking for relationship. Real relationship. And no one around them had time for it.

Today’s elderly often lack computer literacy. Many don’t know how to send an email, let alone navigate social media. So they remain alone. Isolated. Forgotten. It breaks my heart that not even a neighbor or family member checks in. Many are widows or widowers, aching for the companionship they once had.

As Christians, we are commanded to care for the widows and orphans."Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."James 1:27

 Frankly, I consider the elderly as both widow and orphan. They’ve lost a spouse—and often, they’ve lost their family too. That makes them spiritual orphans. We must reach out to those who live alone, ensure they’re safe, and spend time with them—not just physically present, but emotionally engaged.

Don’t sit there thinking of other things while they talk. They can feel that. It’s insulting. It’s like pouring salt into a wound. Instead, listen. Ask questions. Show them you care about what they’re saying. Bring a small gift—a flower from your garden, a funny video to make them laugh. If you know their food limitations, share a meal at their table. They miss that more than we know.

This is a season that awaits us all. But for many, it’s also the season when families gather, friends reconnect, and homes fill with laughter. And yet, the elderly often have neither. No spouse. No children who visit. No one to share a meal or a memory. For them, the holidays don’t just highlight absence—they magnify it. The silence grows louder. The ache deepens. And the loneliness becomes a shadow that stretches long across the winter days.

So treat them as you hope to be treated. With dignity. With warmth. With presence. Because one day, not too far from now, you too will be them.