In 1949, Hank Williams, Sr. wrote a song called I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry. When this song first hit the airwaves, less than 10 percent of homes contained only one person. But today? On your street? One in four of the homes on your street is occupied by one person living alone.
Your Challenge on Day 12 of the 14-Day Love Your Neighbor Challenge is to call one of your neighbors who lives alone.
Perhaps she’s an elderly widow whose nights are long. Perhaps she’s a single executive who works long hours. Perhaps she enjoys her solitude… and perhaps she needs a friend.
“Nine out of ten older people reported that a chat on the phone helps them overcome loneliness . . . but one in four have no one to talk to.”
How to Love Your Neighbor Without Being Weird
You can break the silence with your smart phone. Here are some conversation starters—
- “I just called to say hello.”
- “I haven’t seen you for a while and wondered how you’re doing.”
- “I really enjoy talking to you. What have you been up to?”
- “How are you feeling?”
- “Do you enjoy the hot/cold/sunny/wet weather we’ve been having?”
- “I’m going to the store, what can I pick up for you?”
- “My kids are bringing you over a treat.”
- “Are you ready for the [upcoming storm, holiday, etc.]?”
- “How can we help you today?”
Instead of vague questions, Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly in Chicago recommends you ask specific questions during extremely cold weather:
- “Is your heat working?”
- “Are you warm enough?”
- “Do you have enough food to get through the next few days?”
- “Are you dressing in layers?”
“Twenty-five percent of people say they have no one with whom they can discuss important matters. Another 20 percent said they have one—one!—good friend. A 2010 AARP study found that 35 percent of all adults over 45 are chronically lonely—a 75 percent increase in ten years. And about 60 million people—20 percent of all Americans—are unhappy with their lives because of loneliness.”
How to Love Your Neighbor Without Being Weird
One phone call. Five minutes. You can do that. Yes?
Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world. James 1:27 The Message
Elvis called this the saddest song he’d ever heard.
What do you think?
Tips, tools. . . and prizes!
Win cute prizes to share with your neighbors from Ever Thine Home and Mary & Martha! To enter, do any of the following:
- Pinterest: Pin the image at the top of this post on Pinterest
- Facebook: Like, comment or share the daily challenge on our Facebook page. Share a story while you’re there!
- Twitter: Tweet this quote to your followers on Twitter
Prize Winners
The winner of the Mary & Martha bakeware is Barbara Anne Locklin Bowling! The winner of the “&” Bag from Mary and Martha is Kathy Sekunna! The winners of the Be His Cards from Ever Thine Home are Angela Royal and Chyrll Vollmer! Congratulations! Winners, please contact me with your shipping address to receive your prize.
More winners will be announced on February 14. And if you can’t wait to find out if you’re a winner, please support our sponsors by purchasing these lovely items directly from their websites.
14-Day Love Your Neighbor Challenge
- Day 14: Card
- Day 13: Play
- Day 12: Call
- Day 11: Moms
- Day 10: Eat
- Day 9: Learn
- Day 8: Compliment
- Day 7: Host
- Day 6: Help
- Day 5: Post
- Day 4: Serve
- Day 3: Map
- Day 2: Give
- Day 1: Pray
- Prizes for 14-Day Love Your Neighbor Challenge!
- 14-Day Love Your Neighbor Challenge
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