Evolution of the Hug

In the beginning, I didn’t hug. I was well known in fact for my reluctance to hug. Not only didn’t I hug but the idea of talking to anyone about anything that meant anything was more than I could swallow. Keeping people at arm’s length by rejecting the hugs was just a way to outwardly show the inward refusal to allow anyone to come into my inner circle.

This was my deep well, my pit where I was safe. I could see glimpses from the top-rays of sunlight dancing just outside my line of sight, just outside my grasp. Oh, how I wanted to play in that light but it was safer here in my well.

These people though did not believe in not allowing hugs. They were strange this group of people. The first time I encountered them, they were delighted to see me. A big ole scruffy guy wrapped his arms around me in an embrace with no traces of anything other than love. It was a strange sensation to be hugged without any sexual connotation involved, strange to think that I could be touched for some other reason than to provide a service or sensation to someone else.

One hug didn’t break down my wall. I was a very good skeptic, well versed in the art of looking happy while screaming inside. Time and time again though, these people embraced me. Every time, I was sure it would be the time when something wrong would happen but every time it was an embrace of love. Slowly, I found myself looking forward to those hugs. Then, I became one of the huggers.

See, in my troubled past, the enemy had perverted my love language. I feel compelled to touch people to show care and concern and I desperately need to feel the touch of others. The enemy knew this and sent people who would do terrible things. These terrible things led to me shutting down that love language. But our God is the God of restoration. He takes the broken things and makes them beautiful.

“He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.” (Job 8:21)  Thirty years of pit dwelling was reversed through the love of my Father and His followers.  Each one who embraced me without thinking of what they would gain lifted me a little higher out of that pit. Each kind smile gave me courage. Each sweet touch restored my body. As my body was restored, I started reaching out and holding others.

The enemy has come to steal and destroy. He will destroy anything he thinks will knock the believer down and render her unable to fight. Our Father though is greater than the enemy. Our Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Through Him we are restored and in restoration we become even more beautiful than we could have been before we were hurt. This is our story, our song. This is why we can sing “It is well with my soul.”