We all know what it feels like to be alone. There has been a time in all of our lives when we have felt isolated or excluded in some way. When we feel isolated, it makes us feel bad about ourselves and makes us see the world in a negative way. When I think about feeling isolated or alone, I think back to junior high. I think most of us can relate to the feelings of awkwardness and isolation of being in junior high. Unfortunately, there are some people who have never outgrown their junior high behaviors, and we encounter them throughout our lives at one time or another.

Sometimes people revert back to their junior high behaviors and exclude others or make them feel as if they do not belong. We are not called to exclude anyone for arbitrary reasons. We should always strive to make everyone feel like they belong. When people feel like they belong and are accepted, it helps them feel more peaceful about life, and it makes them feel as if they are not alone. Humans are not meant to live in isolation. None of us are meant to be alone. God wants us to have people in our lives who make us feel important and loved, and He wants all of us to make others feel the same way.

One of the most hurtful things we can do to someone is make them feel rejected or excluded. We are all called to accept people, and we can do this by treating them warmly and with kindness. We should never underestimate the power and the benefit of a simple smile and greeting. When we smile and greet others warmly, it can make an enormous difference in their day and even in their lives. We should work very hard to be friendly and show love to everyone. We should always do our part to make those around us feel included and accepted. We should always do our best to lift up our fellow man and show love and kindness. When we do that, we will always get it back in one way or another. It is very important for us never to exclude people based on what they look like, what their job is, how nice their possessions are, where they live, whom they love, or what they believe. God wants us to accept everyone. He wants us to show kindness and make everyone feel like they belong and are important.

A simple smile and a wave can do a world of good for someone who is feeling like they do not belong. Trying to get to know someone on a personal level may very well surprise us. We all make assumptions about people based on outward appearances. We never really know what they are like on the inside until we take the time to get to know them. We may find that their outward appearance does not reflect their inner positive qualities, and we may find that we are more alike than we originally thought. We may find them to be one of the best friends we could ever have, and we would have missed out on that blessing had we not taken the time to get to know them on a personal level.

So, let’s all try harder to include everyone. Let’s try harder to smile more and to greet people with kindness and understanding. Let’s not exclude anyone from our lives based on arbitrary things, and let’s do our best to get to know someone from the inside out, not the outside in. Let’s make a conscious effort to seek out the people we encounter who look like they feel isolated and alone and try to make them feel like they belong and that their lives have value. We all know people who always seem to be alone and who do not seem to fit in. If we do this, it will bring peace to their lives. It will not only bring them peace, but it will bring us peace too, and that feeling of peace will spread and grow and it will eventually change the world. Having peace is that powerful because PEACE MATTERS.

~Dan~