Does Someone Need a Hug?

 

"Does someone need a hug?"

~Elf, to a raccoon

Have you hugged today or been hugged?  Hugging is or should be a vital part of our existence.  Science says it produces "cuddle" hormones that relieve stress and endorphins that are more powerful than morphine.

Apparently there is a 4/8/12 rule according to Virginia Satir (author & psychotherapist): 

We need 4 hugs a day for survival, 8 hugs a day for maintenance, and 12 hugs a day for growth.

Sounds like hugging has a lot of benefits.  

Don't you wish you could just send or receive hugs to people with more impact than an emoji?  Somehow the impact of 🙏 doesn't seem to convey the emotional support we need in times of distress and anguish.  At times, though well-meaning, the phrase "praying for you" can sometimes seem rote and convenient, when we may want to love on them or be loved by them more fully.

How can we support and encourage friends and family when they are reaching out in their hard times in a more huggy meaningful way?  What seems meaningful to ourselves when we are experiencing hardships?  A meal? A text/visit checking on us? A card? Just listening?

I know we have a God who cares for us in our trying moments, and who is able to comfort us in only the ways He can.  Among other ways, He sends His comfort to us through our Christian brothers and sisters, prayer, and His Word:

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God is our merciful
Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles 
so that we can comfort others.  When they are troubled, we will be able
to give them the same comfort God has given us." 2 Cor 1:3-4

His comfort is meant to encourage us to keep going and be able to participate in the body of Christ with the ripple effect.

He promises if we come to Him when we are weary from life He will give us rest- (Matt 11:28). Sometimes we are so afflicted that we don't even know how or what to pray.  He has us then too-

"And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.  For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for.  But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed
in words.  And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will." Rom 8:26-27

It's hard to know what to do sometimes when we want to convey love, but here are some suggestions that have spoken love to me when I have struggled through some hard times-

    ❤ consistently (but hopefully not annoying) checking on someone to let them know they are                 being thought of

    ❤ sending Scripture of specific prayers that are being lifting up on their behalf

    ❤ offering to do particular tasks for them - babysitting, running errands, bringing a meal

    ❤ sending a card

I'm sure you all have other things that you use to speak love.  It just takes a bit of forethought to be ready to serve others in this way, but the love language of Christ we each choose isn't in vain, even if it is never returned or acknowledged- the Lord sees.

"Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know
that your labor in the Lord is not in vain-." 1 Cor 15:58

Just don't hug any raccoons🐾. 

✙ Dear Father in Heaven, You are our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  We come to You for comfort in all things great and small - knowing and trusting You for working out all things together for our good because we love You.  Help us to in turn comfort others because Your love is in us.  Amen.