(There is a special message at the end of this article for those who might happen to read this and do not have Jesus in their life and are looking for peace and a way to better understand the present-day insanity and confusion.)
This article will be a little different than normal but bear with me.
It’s a little personal, but I feel the need to share it with my readers.
I happen to be a proponent of hugs. I give them out to all my sisters and brothers almost every time we meet.
And I always hug my wife, my grandkids, and my stepkids.
Always.
Now I’ll tell you why.
In September of 1961, I was 9 years old, and my eldest brother, Tim, was working in a shoe factory in Nashua, N.H.
He worked there all summer to earn enough money to fly to California to spend time with an uncle who lived in Sun Valley.
The evening he departed, our family went to see him off from the airport in Boston.
Being a young, selfish, foolish adolescent as I was, I was “mad” at him because he wouldn’t take me with him, so I wouldn’t speak to him or hug him before he boarded the plane. How utterly foolish.
Later that night, the TWA Constellation crashed 9 miles from Midway airport near Hinsdale, Illinois, killing all 78 persons on board.
At that time, it was the worst air disaster in American history, and it was all because of a 5/16″ bolt.
Such a little thing.
At 7 am the next morning, as I looked out my bedroom window, my stepdad pulled into the yard from taking my mother to work, but she was with him, and she was crying.
None of that was normal.
It was obvious that something was wrong, and with a terrible certainty and that jolt of fear in my gut, I knew what it was.
But I had to wait an eternity for her to come inside and say to us, “the plane crashed.”
It was all she could do to even say it. She could barely speak.
Contrary to normal procedure, family members were supposed to be contacted by the airline prior to the release of this type of event on the news.
But instead, she heard it over the radio while on the way to work. Complete with flight number, there was no doubt about it, and no mercy was shown by the media in reporting that news.
I still clearly remember Tim walking up the portable ramp and waving goodbye as he entered the aircraft.
Indelibly etched in my mind, as they say.
So true.
In the ensuing years, I have regretted being so ignorant and stupid even as a youngster, but that didn’t change the facts on the ground. Tim was still gone, and I could no longer apologize.
I would never be able to talk to him, and I would never hug him again.
It was all on me, and the weight of it remains even after all these years. Sometimes it rises like a puff of campfire smoke and stings my eyes with sorrow and regret.
In the ensuing years, I received Jesus as my very personal Savior, and He has made me understand the value of considering others ahead of myself.
He also made me understand the value of forgiveness.
He caused me to see how the selfishness I displayed even as a youngster was a self-inflicted wound and how it can harm us when we refuse to let go of it.
He has also taught me that we can’t literally undo what has already occurred but that we can decide to learn from it and let it teach us something.
We must get out of our own way in order to do that, and, at least in my case, and probably yours, we can’t do it alone.
He also has shown me that letting others know that we love them is so very important, and those opportunities can end in a heartbeat.
So, my dear sisters, brothers, and perhaps others, Hugs really matter.
They have, for me, become a way of letting people know how important they are to me, and I give lots of them out.
The first time I always ask, “Are you OK with a hug?” If they say yes, they get one every time thereafter.
But they can’t be given to someone when they are no longer with you.
There is a certain, inescapable finality when there is just an empty space where someone you love or care for is no longer there and the reality of it settles in.
Many of you know this well, and I know it right along with you.
If they were saved, we who have Jesus Christ as our personal Savior do not have to grieve in hopelessness, but we still grieve.
Sadly, I do not know if my brother was saved. He was only 17 and so perhaps not yet accountable. But I don’t know.
But I do trust God with all my heart, and so I will wait upon Him.
So, why am I sharing this with you? After all, it did happen in 1961. That’s a long time ago, right?
It still pops up fresh on occasion. Selfishness is the gift that keeps on giving.
Just don’t let it be a burden that overwhelms you. Jesus can help with that.
Cast it aside. Let people know you love them. You would be surprised at how they will initiate the hugs right back to you once you have “broken the ice.”
It’s never too late to start if they are still with you.
Moms, Dads, hug your kids. Brothers, sisters, hug each other while you can.
If you can’t do it with hugs, tell them instead. “I love you” is such a brief little message with so much import.
Don’t miss out.
Christian sisters and brothers, share your love of Christ with those you care about.
Maybe hugging others is not for everyone, but it can be. It just takes a little practice, and it sends a wonderful and permanent message.
One of my prayers is that when I get Home, Jesus will hug me. I want that more than a mansion.
In the meantime, I will continue to make sure to hug everyone who is willing.
Are you hurting, grieving, regretting? Jesus put everything in perspective for me. It took some time because I always was one who had to do things my own way.
He can do the same for you.
There is a special message at the end of this article, and you may find it difficult in spots because it requires facing up to a difficult thing that is hard to admit to. But if you do, then He can help you. I speak from experience.
The truth is, we ALL want to do things our own way. We want to be the “master of our own destiny.” We reject God and His reminding us that we are sinners.
Worse than that, some don’t think God can forgive them. They were “too bad.”
Not the least bit true. God will forgive you if you ask Him, His way.
There is that “difficult thing to admit to” that I mentioned.
Sin. It is what it is.
So, if you have read this far, I hope you will invest a few more moments in yourself and, by extension, others of us who are making this journey through life with you.
There is a simple little song entitled “This Little Light of Mine.”
You can search it on the web. Give it a listen, if you will.
Give your life over to Jesus and ask Him to throw your switch.
You will not regret it.
The special message I promised you:
For anyone who may read this article and has not trusted in Jesus Christ and therefore has no hope or peace in your life:
You can have hope. You can have the peace that Jesus has promised to all who have made Him their Lord and Savior. The peace that passes understanding.
It requires that you come before God on His terms.
And, what are His terms according to His Word?
- Genuine repentance (turning to God instead of continuing to reject or ignore Him).
- Confession of sins (that you are a sinner and acknowledge that to God).
- That you understand that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
- To acknowledge to God that you are unable to pay that debt.
- Belief that Jesus Christ paid your death sentence for you on the cross.
- To believe that Jesus is the Way, the only Way, that God has established by which humans may be saved from the consequences of their sin and rebellion.
God has made it absolutely clear that there is no one who comes before Him, under His terms, that will be refused.
- No one: no race, no color, no country of origin, regardless of any previous belief system: no one.
- No matter what your past sins have been, God can and WILL forgive you because He says He will.
- Salvation is available to everyone without any exceptions.
If you put all your trust for salvation in Jesus, and Him only, you can follow that prayer up by simply saying, “Thank you, Father God, for hearing my prayer and saving me,” because we can trust Him to keep His Word. He always has. He always will.
“Truly, Truly, I say to you that he who hears My words and believes the One who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned. He has crossed from death to life” (John 5:24).
There are no answers and there is no hope in the world by governments, organizations, politics or politicians. There are only lies and deception. But you can have the Truth and the peace you seek.
The answers are in the Word of God—The Bible. If you ask God, with all your heart, He will hear you.
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
Pro Salvator Vigilans
To contact me: canoeman96@gmail.com