“You just don’t understand!” How many times have you said or heard this? If I had a dollar for each time, I’d be retired instead of tired. 🙂 Then again, there are those who say, “I understand…” and have no clue because they have never experienced what you’re going through. I know after living with ‘invisible’ disabilities, I have found myself in positions where I have to attempt to explain a lot, and still others just can’t understand.
You see, we can all understand what it’s like to have a headache, the loss of a loved one, etc., but there are a lot of things we can ‘think’ we understand and truly don’t. Talk to a former war veteran and say you understand what they’re feeling and look at the expression they have then. If you’ve never been to war, you couldn’t grasp the slightest clue about what it’s like and the nightmares they will live with. Rape, abuse, neglect ~ these are other categories where, unless you’ve been there, you shouldn’t say you understand. With that being said, we all need to remember that everything is said in context. For example, there are those who think they have been neglected vs. those who truly have been.
Throughout the holidays, many people feel alone and get truly depressed. They are by themselves or possibly facing family issues from the past, so holidays are hard. For some, it’s going through another holiday season without someone they love. Many times we try to be encouraging to others when we see their pain and then go to enjoy a feast with our own loved ones. I know I can relate to this. When my son was in Iraq and my family was in Florida, I was single and living on top of a mountain in western North Carolina. I finally found that if I went ahead and put up a Christmas tree and played my Christmas music, I felt better even though I was alone.
There is one person who does understand the feeling of being alone ~ Jesus. Yes, the Son of God truly understands that feeling. Think about it. Even though He had many followers, He had only a few close friends, and even one of those betrayed Him and gave Him to the Roman soldiers for money. His ‘friends’ were nowhere to be found through His worst time and His closest friend denied even knowing Him. So, when you feel like no one understands ~ Jesus does. He understands feeling alone, being abandoned and mocked and ridiculed as well!
If you are someone who can help someone feel less alone, take that step.
Trust me, the holidays can be hard and I know what it’s like to wish someone would ask you over just so you wouldn’t have to be alone again. If you are someone who is alone ~ I do understand. Not that that helps you feel any better, but I can tell you what will. Talk with Jesus. Spend your alone time with Him, getting to know Him better. He is listening, He will help you through, and He does understand.
This is DeVaughn ~ bringing it home.
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