The Power of A Hug

A genuine heart-felt love-motivated no-conditions-attached hug. Wow! Sometimes it’s the best gift I can give, and other times it’s the best gift I can receive.

Can we ever get enough hugs?

My dear friend neared the end of his long battle with cancer, and though we’d planned to get together a few times his health had not allowed it. One Sunday afternoon he felt like company and we connected, laughed, and shared stories for a couple of hours until I could tell he was tiring rapidly. As I rose to leave I hugged him tightly and told him, “I love you, Brother!”

He returned the hug with a strength I did not know he yet possessed and told me, “I love you, too!”

Tears flooded my eyes as I drove away, and I will remember that last hug until my clock runs out. By the end of that week he’d moved in with Jesus, and don’t you know he got the best hug of all up there.

I thought my days of long school assemblies had passed as my youngest sang in her last high school choral presentation years ago. Little did I know that one day I would be invited to Grandparents Day at my granddaughter’s school. She’s a budding first grader and brings energy, excitement, curiosity and life to that role.

What a delight to join hundreds of other grandparents, some who had driven hours to attend the program. The last entry in the presentation was the combined classes of kindergarten, first and second grades and the number chosen for them was “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King. The director had changed the repeated words “darlin’, darlin’ stand by me” to rock our world. Imagine a hundred tiny voices shouting out, “Grandma, Grandpa, stand by me!”

The moment hit this grandpa right in the heart as I pondered the meaning behind the request. Tear welled up as I thought, “I will stand by you, Fern, as long as I have a pulse.” I could not wait for the classroom visit where I would be able to give her a great big hug. Well, maybe a couple of dozen hugs.

Unknown to me Shawn had her phone ready and captured the look on my face as I scrunched Fern as closely as I could. Hugs with Fern are happy moments for me.

And my reporter on the spot pivoted on the next hug to grab Fern’s expression. I think hugs with me are happy moments for Fern, too.

Let’s be reminded that the holiday season is brutal for some. Memories of Christmases past and of loved ones who no longer attend the family gathering can overwhelm even those who follow closely after God. Perhaps the best gift we can offer is a silent, sincere, loving hug.

Hugs do work wonders.