Hugs

Nighttime seems to be a typical occasion for the kids to think about missing Abby. They often talk about her as we are tucking them into bed. We like to share what we think she is doing as we are going to bed. Occasionally, Josiah will come back out of bed and tell us that he's sad about Abby. We usually offer to pray with him, hug him and tuck him back into bed.

Recently, Josiah had a neat experience that I wanted to share with you. He had come out of his bed and told me that he was missing Abby so I gave him a hug and offered to pray with him. He decided that he wanted me to tuck him in and then said that he would pray himself. I told him to ask Jesus to give him a hug too and even to give Abby one for him. The next morning he came downstairs all smiles. He said, "Mommy, God answered my prayers! I got into bed and had a lump in my throat. I asked him to give me a hug and the lump went away! I guess he gave Abby a hug too."

Some day we look forward to hugging Abby in person in heaven, but for now we are asking Jesus to give Abby a hug for us. Maybe she's asking Jesus to hug us right back :) We certainly do feel His love and peace when we're leaning on Him. It doesn't take away the sadness and pain, but we are able to have joyful thoughts about Abby in her heavenly home.

Here's a cute poem we received in a card recently.

Hugs
Unknown Author

It's wondrous what a hug can do,
It can cheer you up when you're feeling blue.
A hug can say I love you so,
And how I hate to see you go.
A hug means welcome back with cheer;
It seems that you've been gone a year.
A hug can soothe a small child's pain
And bring a rainbow after a rain.
About a hug there is no doubt,
It's something we can't do without.

A hug will warm, delight and charm
It must be why God made an arm.
Hugs are great for favorite aunts
'Twill help them more than potted plants.
Kittens crave them, puppies love them.
Heads of state are not above them.
A hug can break the language barrier
And make the dullest day far merrier.
So stretch those arms without delay,
And give someone a hug today.

Who are you going to hug?