“Miss, will you hug me please?”
“Please, can I hug you?”
“I want a hug too!!!”
These phrases were all too common for me last week at the Islamic boarding school.
The formal greeting and respectful way to say goodbye here is for the students to take our hands and kiss them or put their foreheads to them….or both.
To honor their culture, I will certainly stand as all the students come by in a line to show their respect…..however I also take advantage of the “grace card” that is freely given to foreigners.
As such – formalities aside – I give hugs….
…and lots of them!!! 🙂
Going to the Father Heart A school in Scotland last year, one thing stuck out to me in a powerful way:
The Father’s love is not just a concept, but a SUBSTANCE that can be felt and experienced!!!
One of the ways they told us that we can feel the substance of His love, is through hugs.
Over the years, I’ve had more people than I can count say that they genuinely feel the tangible presence of God’s love when I hug them.
Now whenever I hug people, I silently pray, “Father, may my arms be Your arms – pour the substance of Your love into Your beloved as I hug them.”
Everyday at the school, one girl after another would swarm around me asking for hugs.
The way their eyes light up and they squeeze even tighter as they laugh and giggle makes ME feel His presence in a tangible way as well!
>>> Hugs are just good.…………………in more ways than one!!! <<<
Go hug some people today!
* Hug those you love and care about.
* Hug strangers.
* Hug children.
* Hug anyone and everyone around you today…………………….
…..and feel the substance of the Father’s love flowing through you!!
Also, in case you haven’t seen these yet, here are some short clips of my favorite 12th grade class of girls performing some of the traditional Indonesian style dance called the Saman. They have performed in front of the President of Indonesia! Enjoy!! 🙂
