Thursday, September 18, 2008

Huggers

Have you hugged your children (or parents) today?

As a child, I stayed about a foot away from my parents or anybody else. My folks weren't vicious or anything like that. It's just that they weren't demonstrative in their affections. As for other people, they made me suspicious of them because I didn't know them. I was shy.

Today if one of my parents hugs me, I shrink away. It doesn't feel normal. I wonder if it feels normal to them?

I now make it a point to hug and kiss my children often. Amanda loves it and snuggles close. Evan and Josh allow a hug and a kiss and many times hug back. Johnny and Ryan cover their heads and tell me to go away as they blush.

As for strangers, all of my children except Evan are outgoing and friendly, though they don't hug people they don't know. Amanda could be coaxed easily, but I'm trying to teach her to be careful with strangers because we don't know them and they might not be nice to her.

As human beings created in the image of God, we have a natural need for affection. We love to snuggle close to another. We love to fellowship with one another. Most of the time this is a good thing. What we really crave, whether we know it or not, is an intimate relationship with our Creator. He alone can fulfill every need and desire we possess.

May you seek and find that relationship if you haven't yet.

1 comment:

na said...

I am the same way with my parents now.

We hug and kiss our kids a lot now. Believe it or not...Aidan is a snuggly bug...kind of reminds me of Evan when he was younger. Aleksei is kind of reserved...at least until she gets to know you. Both of them have been educated about strangers though and so far they obey us well on that one.