“I am forgotten as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery. For I hear many whispering, “Terror on every side!” They conspire against me and plot to take my life.” (Psalms 31:12, NIV)

Those Jews who survived WWII often came out of the experience with significant grief, for usually the rest of their families were gone. What grieved them perhaps the most, however, was that they couldn’t even remember what their loved ones looked like. This haunted them.

This is why Eliahu, a 100+ year-old Jewish WWII survivor, was so excited by his surprise visit…

Eliahu had survived WWII by escaping to the USSR. His brother, too, escaped to Russia; however he was sent to a Siberian winter camp, and when Eliahu never received any further news of him, he believed his brother to be dead. Imagine his joy when he learned that this was not true, and once they again made contact, the brother sent his own son, who was, himself, 66-years-old, to visit Eliahu in the retirement home in Israel where he resided. When they met, both of men were reduced to tears. “I thought I had no more family!” exclaimed Eliahu.

This was amazing. After feeling so alone ever since the war, he now knew there was someone left who cared. This was definitely the highlight of his life.

So many people are lonely. No one visits them. We can do something for them. We can visit them and show them the love of God. Take the time to make a difference to others.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'” (Matthew 25:31-40 NIV)

Do you know someone who is lonely? What will you do?

Rob Chaffart