HUGS

          When your earthly husband has deserted you and you still can’t believe it, you continue to love him. How can this be? Surely only God understands this kind of love.
          The thing you long for the most, seems like such a simple thing. If only he would hug you close…the pain would go away.
          What is it about a “hug” that is so healing?
          There are different kinds of hugs, but each is a form of healing. There are hugs between friends, a baby, a child, a parent, even a pet. These are casual joyful hugs. And there are long consoling hugs. There are hugs between boyfriend and girlfriend, and there are hugs between the older husband and wife who have spent years together. They have shared many joys and sorrows; perhaps raised their children, worked side by side, delighted in their grandchildren…dreamed together, went to bed together at night and awoke in the same bed together each morning.
          What does their hug mean? It means, “ We’re still connected by Love.”
          So, as I tried to understand this strong desire for a hug…at least one long lasting hug, to get me moving on my day, I knew it wasn’t just any kind of hug. It was the hug of a man; a strong man that shared his strength with me and let me know I was complete because of him and his love. I wanted to share my strength with him, too.
          But this could not be just any man. No! The only one it could be was my earthly husband. There was only one for me.
          Then I began crying out to God, my Heavenly Husband. “Oh Lord, hold me tight. Hold me so tight I can hardly breath.”
          Sometimes I cross my arms and hug myself. I don’t understand it, but then I can feel Christ in me hugging me back. And I begin to feel the power and peace and comfort…from His Hug.
          And I am satisfied.
          As there could be no other earthly husband for me…there can be no other God, or Heavenly Husband for me. No one else could ever meet my need for love, like He does.
          Thanks for the HUG, Lord.