As I was reading Natalia’s blog post, Touch Me, Dammit!, I remembered a story that I want to share:
Several years ago I did a sermon in which I mentioned that we need a minimum of 20 hugs a day to maintain our mental health. As people exited the sanctuary, a couple intentionally hugged me.
Then Timmy, a 9-year-old boy who was fighting for his life due to a brain tumor, asked me, “How many hugs have you gotten today?”
I replied, “Two.”
He hugged me, backed off a bit, and hugged me again. He counted, “One, two … seventeen, eighteen.”
“There,” he said, “you have your twenty hugs!”
As I smiled and started to thank him, he came up and hugged me two more times.
“Now,” he said, “I have my twenty hugs, too.”
There's something in a simple hug
That always warms the heart;
It welcomes us back home
And makes it easier to part.
A hug's a way to share the joy
And sad times we go through,
Or just a way for friends to say
They like you 'cause you're you.
Hugs are meant for anyone
For whom we really care,
From your grandma to your neighbour,
Or a cuddly teddy bear.
A hug is an amazing thing -
It's just the perfect way
To show the love we're feeling
But can't find the words to say.
It's funny how a little hug
Makes everyone feel good;
In every place and language,
It's always understood.
And hugs don't need new equipment,
Special batteries or parts -
Just open up your arms
And open up your hearts.
Jill Wolf
*HUGS* TOTAL!
give sometimessainlynick more *HUGS*
Get hugs of your own
I came here looking for jokes and found your story about the hugs. Wow! Thanks. I realize that one of the reasons I’ve felt rather low today is that I’ve had no hugs! I think I’ll go back out and ask for a couple—or, maybe even twenty!
ReplyDeleteYou seem to be doing much better! Good story about hugs—neat poem. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI’m glad to see you are talking about hugs! Means you’re doing better? I wonder if the need for 20 hugs is what got you down?
ReplyDeleteHugs are a wonderous thing...
ReplyDeleteBig cyber hug coming your way
(((Nick)))
ReplyDeleteGreat hug story, that sounds like something my grands would do. ec
ReplyDeleteAzsonofagun: I see, Rex, from your comment in the jokes post that you found the jokes. Here’s a hug: ((Rex)). Now remember: you need 19 more, so go out and get them!
ReplyDeleteKylz: I like the poem, too. Please visit the link to her site, since I posted the poem without asking permission.
Mike: Yes, thank you, I am in a much happier mode than I have been. I think it comes from reaching out to others.
Mike in Tucson: Come to think about it, it had been a while since I had a hug. That may have had something to do with the sadness I was feeling. But since I have never figured out its source, I really can’t say. All I know is that I feel cheery and am in high spirits.
Crazynik: Thanks for the cyber hug! Here’s one back: ((Crazynik)).
Milkmaid: ((Milkmaid))
Mreddie: Your grands must be neat kids!
I left you a hug, but you deserve a 100 more!
ReplyDeleteI have been thinking about what you said about blogging and am considering starting one. I’ll let you know if and when I do and maybe you would link to it in your “Good Blogs?”
Abby: Thank you: I can use a lot of hugs! Let me know when you start your blog.
ReplyDeletesweet. now I'm going to have to run around hugging random people all day.
ReplyDeleteSong: Hey! Thanks a good idea. I think I’ll spend the day hugging random people, too.
ReplyDelete