Hugs

I read this earlier this evening....

'....Soon after her family left for the evening, Mary started to think that her hospital room must be the loneliest place in the world. Nighttime had fallen, her fears about her illness were back, and she felt overwhelming despair as she lay there alone.

Closing her eyes, she began to talk to God: "Oh Lord, I know I am not really alone. You are here with me. Please calm my heart and give me peace. Let me feel Your arms around me, holding me."

As she prayed, Mary felt her fears beginning to subside. And when she opened her eyes, she looked up to see the warm, sparkling eyes of her friend Sue, who reached out to encircle her in a big hug. Mary felt as if God Himself were holding her tightly.....'

God often uses fellow believers to show us His love. "We, being many, are one body in Christ...Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them" (Romans 12:5-6).

Let me just get this out of the way. I am not a hugger. I never have been. And I thought I never would be. But I so SO much want to be. What has been holding me back? Why can't I give someone I love a hug? Why can't I give someone who obviously needs a hug, a hug? Well, guess what? I CAN. I just haven't. I haven't been sensitive to the moments when hugs are needed. And many times I have just hid behind the fact that many people know that I am not hugger. And when people know you are not a hugger, then they won't approach you with a hug. Could this be a way of keeping people at an arms-length distance? I think it might be. I am recently overcoming some pretty big "issues" if you will. God has granted me grace and love way beyond what I deserve. I love Him with all of my heart. He is first in my life. But I have not been showing my love for Him because I have not fully been showing love for His family.

When we show love and compassion in simple, practical ways, we are a part of God's ministry to HIS people. WOW. WOW! When I think about how many times I have passed up the opportunity to simply embrace someone who needed to be held or hug someone who needed to be lifted up in a simple way, it hurts my heart. I will not let any more of these moments pass. I promise.

I am a hugger. I can say it. I can do it. Because I love God and I love His people.