Jul
6
2013
That Kind of Hug
Posted in Family Life, Poetry 6 Comments
The little girl was shaking from her head down to her toes.
She had to get a running start; she didn’t have far to go.
Waiting for the loving arms she hadn’t felt in quite a while.
Waiting for her Daddy, with his kind eyes and his smile.
Her Daddy in his uniform; he’d been wearing all along.
Her Daddy stood so straight and tall; her Daddy was so strong.
She talked to him with Mommy, through the computer screen.
But now he would be next to her; now he would be seen.
She had so much to tell him; but all of that could wait.
She peered at nameless faces, hoping he would not be late.
She dreamed about this special day whenever she got sad.
She tried to do the things he asked; she tried not to be bad.
Other girls had their Daddies every day and every night.
There to read a story with; there to kiss goodnight.
Other girls took for granted, that their Daddy was always there.
She knew how precious each moment was; how much they had to share.
She looked through the sea of faces, for the one she loved the most.
She felt her Mommy’s hand hold tight; she kept her Mommy close.
From the sea of people…the one face she waited for,
Was rushing now towards them; almost breaking down the door.
In one fell swoop he picked them up and held onto them tight.
He smothered them with kisses and hugged with all his might.
She pulled away, just for a glimpse of that one face in the crowd.
She saw tears in her Daddy’s eyes…I’m home…he cried out loud.
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Jesus continued, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had and set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death. I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men. So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off , his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
(Luke 15:1-20)
There is a special kind of hug.
The kind of hug that happens when you haven’t seen your loved one in a while.
Separated by distance or circumstances.
Anticipation makes you tremble from head to toe with excitement.
You don’t have to be a child to experience that kind of hug.
Jesus told a parable about the lost son.
The son that squandered his wealth for today, with no thought of tomorrow.
Until it was almost too late.
We must never forget the picture Jesus painted as he told the story.
The Father was waiting.
The Father searched the horizon, looking for the approaching silhouette of His son.
The Father saw His son when he was a long way off.
A long way off because of distance…because of circumstances.
The Father saw His son…the one face He longed to see.
He didn’t stand there and wait for His son to come to Him.
He didn’t care about propriety!
He cared about His son.
He ran in a most undignified way…with His arms outstretched.
The arms that waited for so long to envelop the one that was away.
That kind of hug.
You’re home.
And nothing felt more right!
You did it this time.
Michelle,
This video…and the thoughts that came because of it…got to me as well!
Thank you friend!
Gina
Oh my goodness!! I just balled my eyes out. Especially since Matt is gone right now for Military reasons.. This was beautiful. Imagining God hugging me that way makes me cry all over again. Wonderful post Gina!
xoxo
Melissa,
You came to mind when I wrote it.
There are a few people I thought of, either waiting for someone to return, or the one who is away.
Yes…imagine God the Father hugging us with that kind of hug!
You are never alone.
God knows. God cares. God sees!
Gina
Tears flowing!!!!
Janna,
The tears flowed for me as well!
Can you imagine God hugging us JUST that way?
Gina