Saturday, March 21, 2009

Give me a hug....

My daughter, the world traveler, came back from Amsterdam this evening. I got the privilege of picking her up at the airport. I love picking her up when she travels because I'll go sit in the baggage claim and people watch till she arrives. I wonder where they are going to or coming from. But you know my favorite thing in the world is giving my girl a welcome home hug. I'd sit there watching people come out and meet family or friends and the hugs were all around, everyone smiling and laughing. I feel for the folks who have no one there to greet them with a hug.
A hug is like a bridge that spans the gaps of time you've been apart. At Rhonda and my anniversy party an old friend came whom I hadn't seen in about 15 years. I gave that man a hug and it was like we were brought back together, like the lost time was found. When my friend Juli came home from her travels I had to give her a big ol bear hug. If I hadn't it would be like she was not back yet. Same as with my daughter-in-law and my sons when they come into town.
It doesn't matter if it's a side-to-side "arm around the shoulder" hug or a leaning over "pat on the back" hug, a hug is very comforting. Maybe it's like Time.com says... the hug is the new hand shake. The first time I saw a "Free Hug" sign I thought it was kind of silly. But the more I think on it the more I realize the impact of that free hug on that person and the people they'll meet.
So hear this, both of you who read this blog, go out and hug someone. Hug your mom or your spouse or your boyfriend or girlfriend. Hug someone you haven't seen in a while. hug someone who needs it, hug someone who doesn't. You might just have a God size impact on someone.