NEWS PROVIDED BY
Kenneth Ebright
Nov. 10, 2026
BELLEVILLE, Ill., Nov. 10, 2026 /Standard Newswire/ — The following is submitted by Kenneth Ebright:
There are people this Christmas season that are not going to be with family. This is not necessarily about people in prison or a hospital or a retirement home. Being far away from home has made me realize what Christmas must be like for people who don’t have families.
Last year I met someone who was in my situation. She works for Fed-ex office; we have become friends. This woman who appears to be in her twenties told me holidays are difficult because she and her fiancée do not have a family. She has a brother who recently moved to Springfield IL. She dreads the holidays, she lost her mom a few years ago and does not know her father.
Christmas is about Jesus and not about buying junk that will end up in a dumpster someday. I may be stepping on some toes here, but Christmas is not about spending time with families. It’s about Jesus.
Christmas day is considered one of the loneliest days of the year for people who do not have a family. I do not think that is what Jesus wants for people. Jesus spent time with people who are hurting. There will be many people with no family who will be lonely on Christmas. I think about the following verse: “I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was alone and away from home, and you invited me into your house Matthew 25:35.” (NCV) When I read that verse, I feel that it calls Christians to action.
The church at large needs to reach out to people like this woman at the Fed-ex office. People need to think about other people on Christmas Day.
There are two possible options, inviting someone over, or the church to open up its doors on Christmas day. That also does not mean you cannot do the normal celebration. What it does mean inviting someone over for Christmas that you know might be alone.
Part of Christmas day you do nothing, what about hurting people who are alone. I think this is what Jesus would want you to do: is to reach lost people. Is there someone who you know is going to be alone on Christmas? Email me at ebrightken@netzero.net about what you think and how I can get this message out.
SOURCE Kenneth Ebright
CONTACT: ebrightken@netzero.net