Comforting the Little Ones in Your Life

COMBATING CHILDHOOD LONELINESS

As a father and grandfather, best-selling author Max Lucado is alarmed by recent statistics reporting a sharp increase in loneliness. Studies show 61 percent of Americans report often feeling lonely. Another report by the National Institutes of Health shows 80 percent of children under the age of 18 are lonely. Max wrote his latest book, Just in Case You Ever Feel Alone, hoping to bring comfort to our little ones, letting them know that despite feelings of solitude and sadness, God is only a prayer away, and they will never be alone, no matter what. 

In the book, we find a mother bear encouraging her cub that no matter what life throws their way, God is with them, and they will get through it together. An excerpt from the book reads:

He’s with you when you’re happy,
And he’s with you when you’re not.
He’s here no matter what.
He’ll know what to do.
He’ll know what to say.
In case you ever feel alone,
He’s just a prayer away. 

Max says, “To a child, a day can last forever, and hurt feelings sink in deep.” He wants us to remind our kids that in good times and bad, we will always make time for them. He also says that we can help children process their feelings by asking lots of questions and giving them time to talk. 

BACKGROUND

Max Lucado's childhood was both idyllic and simple. Max was raised in Andrews, Texas, a town with a population smaller than the current membership of Oak Hills Church where Max is the teaching minister. Max's dad was an oilfield mechanic and his mother was a nurse. He spent much of his childhood chasing or being chased by his beloved brother, Dee. Once Max became a teenager, rebellion kicked in. After one specific drunken night, Max began to wonder if there was more to life than parties and chasing girls. He believes now that if Jesus hadn't changed his heart, alcoholism would have been in his future.    

During undergraduate studies at Abilene Christian University (ACU), Max grew to realize God was bigger—and better than any rebellion. Max left ACU with two degrees and a heart for telling others about God and his faithfulness. Max's first ministry assignment was as the associate pastor of a small church in Miami, Florida. In that position, he developed his passion for people, ministry, and writing. He began writing when he was assigned a column in the church’s weekly newsletter.

While in Florida Max married Denalyn, now his wife of more than 40 years. Max and Denalyn moved to Rio de Janeiro in 1983 to help plant churches. During their five years in Brazil, Max continued to write, updating friends and family back home about their ministry. Eventually, Max gathered the Brazil newsletters and Florida columns into a manuscript and sent it off to fifteen publishers. After multiple rejection letters, one publisher finally said yes. Today, he’s written more than 100 books with over 150 million in print.

To purchase your copy of Just in Case You Ever Feel Alone, please visit Max Lucado's website: www.MaxLucado.com.