In this Christmas season, there is so much that is welcome — music, lights, gifts, gatherings, food, and remembrance of our Savior’s birth, the reason our family celebrates.
“As an adjective, welcome means wanted, appreciated, or pleasing.” For example, “You’re welcome.” — Grammarly
Used as a verb in the imperative mood, I can say, “Welcome the blessing of solitude.”
In December 2019, Morgan Jones shared extraordinary insight in an article,“Receiving the Gift of Loneliness”. She wrote, “For me, loneliness has actually been one of my greatest blessings because it has taught me to rely on God in a way I don’t know that I would’ve learned otherwise.”
Tuesday evening as I was reading alone, a sentence stopped me in Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand c.1957, p.29 (entrepreneur Hank Rearden walking home from work at night) “He never felt loneliness except when he was happy.” I understood, though I’d never put my feeling into words like that. I welcome loneliness especially at joyful times, knowing my sweetheart Kay is not far away, so we can share true happiness ... just the two of us. I treasure that Christmas feeling. It’s about love.
