Orphans. At some point in our lives, if we live long enough, we all become one.
I’m an orphan.
My mother died nine years ago and my dad many years before that, but I still remember the pain as each death punched a hole in my heart. With time, the ragged edges smooth over and gradually grow toward each other, but something changes forever when you realize you are now the oldest generation of your family. Even after more than 25 years, I sometimes wish I could hear Dad’s voice calling me “sweetie” again. I wish I could ask his advice on things he knew ten times more about than I do. No human can ever fill his vacant place.
But as much as I’ve missed Dad, I’ve never felt abandoned and alone. I still have a father. One who loves me even more than my earthly dad ever could. I’m his child by adoption.
My kids are adopted, and I know in my bones how deeply I love them, how impossible it would be to love any child more than I love them. And that’s how God loves me. Because of his love for me, God adopted me as his daughter through Jesus. His Spirit is always with me. I might feel lonely for a time, but I will never be alone.
Jesus made his followers a promise: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever―the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:16-18, NIV)
Do you think there is a difference between being lonely and being alone?
I’d love to hear your thoughts, so I hope you’ll join the conversation.
There’s definitely a difference between being alone and being lonely but it can also happen at the same time.
There have been times in my life that I have been in a group of people, even interacting with them and yet feeling very lonely. Maybe it’s because I didn’t feel I fit in or for whatever reason, a need wasn’t being met.
Being alone to me is being by myself. Yes, there are times that a person can be alone and lonely but being alone doesn’t always mean one “is” lonely.
I think most of us have had that “lonely in a crowd” feeling, Lisa. Being alone by myself is often when I’m most aware that God is with me and that I’ll never truly be “alone.”
Ha! I was just thinking of this verse when I was commenting on your Father’s Day post. This is one of those verses where God showed Himself in such a tangible way. When this verse was read to the congregation many years ago, I sat there and cried like a baby! It doesn’t matter if our parents are still here or gone, present or not, He will never leave us as orphans. He loves us so much.
Amen, Regina!