Loneliness and Pain

How do you really know
Just what to do or say
When someone you love
Is in so much pain?
When their lives are depleted
Of the basic resources
That we as humans
Need for our survival
And they feel so lost, lonely, and empty
And all they feel is pain?
I haven’t really been lonely
Although I’ve been alone
And I can’t imagine what my life would be like
If I had no one
It’s one of my greatest fears next to dying
How do you help someone
Who’s been hurt again and again
By family, loves and friends
Who’s feeling their age
And losing hope and maybe even faith
Feel good about life?
What experience and knowledge
Do I have to share?
Well, I’ll be the first to admit
That I have a lot to learn
That I don’t know everything
That I don’t really want to judge
Because I’m not any better than others
I like to consider people my sisters and brothers
In Christ with God our Father
And the Holy Spirit to blow through our lives
But I’ll say this
Lonely people are not simply alone
For that’s only temporary
Lonely people have a condition
That seems like a cursed eternity
And what they really need and want
More than anything else
Isn’t money, success, a job, or things
They want love, acceptance, and security
And they need people to give that to them
That’s the only real cure for the disease loneliness
No one really talks about it
Like they do other diseases or illnesses
But it’s out there and it’s real
And people suffer great pain from it
It’s really a big deal
And it breaks my heart to think
That some people have to learn to be strong
On their own
While others are never left alone
We all need our space, that’s true
But think how you’d feel if you were lonely too
And consumed with pain, lost and maybe even depressed
We all need and deserve a chance at happiness
And we all want love
Let’s help our neighbors find it and let’s give it
Let’s be aware and open up our hearts because
We can beat loneliness.