I began thinking about this when my husband and I were going to be apart for a period of time and we had always worked together and done everything together. That’s what goes along with a friendly, fun, loving marriage where you both like the same things, like God, food, the beach, animals, reading and sports.

I had a choice of either being lonely (sad, grumpy, pitiful) or learning how to

“be alone” for a short period of time and filling those hours with relaxing yet

productive activity.

I’ve always had several children (when they were home), their activities and hobbies of my own to keep me busy and happy.

Alone & Lonely 

From Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, it means solitary, desolate, lonely, sense of loss. However, solitary could mean (to glory

in the calm of a solitary life), which is a positive idea.

Everyone needs to be alone sometime. I like quiet in my home and most of the time that rings true. However, as a Christian woman, I’m never alone with the host of angels that are always with me, according to the scriptures: Psalm 91:11 NKJ

It’s a challenge with a large dog named Candy, who is a Great Dane with a very, loud bark and presence. This is good as a watchdog, but not at birds and boats or little lizards! She has trouble differentiating between unwanted visitors and the above list.

I think lonely people feel cut off, isolated from human contact, which produces a feeling of bleakness or desolation, especially if there’s not any activity and the thoughts continue to escalate and take over. It’s so important what we think and are thinking about. Go back to the peace in Philippians 4:8-9 and read about a new concept in thinking. Better yet, read the whole chapter.

I read my Bibles quite a bit, do word studies, have communion with my Lord and have an app on my phone with two foreign languages I’m teaching myself, play my beautiful baby grand piano, which a friend gave us, watch the Astros and Rockets and tennis until football,  write a weekly column and books, light exercise and enjoy my church.

There’s so much to do and so little time — only 24 hours a day — to fill it up. Peace!

Kathie Deasy writes about faith for The Port Arthur News.