Hugs

“I have learned that there is more power in a good strong hug than in a thousand meaningful words.”  Ann Hood

When I think of good strong hugs, my mind immediately goes to a few people who give them regularly…Cindi, Casey, Jim, Bogue, and Kathy.  I know there are others, but these folks are the best!  I love it when people hug me tightly and when I start to move away, they just keep holding on.

When we hug someone in a proper way, we use our hands, arms, and shoulders to wrap them up.  It likens itself to a cocoon that wraps us and protects us.  Hugs can show belonging, affirmation, understanding, intimacy, comfort, consolation, celebration, love, and assurance.  It’s the best way I know to show people you care.

How does God hug us?  When I think of Jesus, my mind goes to the Children’s Bible stories where there were pictures of children wrapped in His arms.  He was hugging them close to show His love for them.  I think He does the same for us through our relationships with others.  God can’t be everywhere, so He sends Christian friends to hug us in His stead.

I have a neighbor who recently lost her husband of 60 years.  I went by to see her the other day, but when she opened the door, I felt words were just inadequate.  Instead, I opened my arms and said, “I just came over to give you a hug.”  Hugs are there when words fail.

As we think of situations of suffering, pain, loss, depression, anxiety, fear, and any other emotion that is part of our lives, I think of the strong arms of Jesus wrapping around us in the form of our Christian friends.

These scriptures assure me and feel like hugs from heaven.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 8:38-39

“See what great love the father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!”  1 John 3:1