Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

         Lately there has been a lot of talk about social distancing. Most of us were never aware of the numerous times during the day that we touch or hug another person. Now we are being taught to protect ourselves from germs others may be carrying and to protect them from germs we may be carrying. A hug or a touch usually conveys to the other person that they are worthy of being invited into our personal space. We use that as a means to convey love and acceptance, to show compassion and concern for one hurting and in need of comfort, and to demonstrate forgiveness. But now we are being conditioned to think of a hug or touch as a disregard for the other person’s well being.  So we are left to wonder how we can show our feelings for another person during this difficult and uncertain time. I think we need to use our words more. A genuine hug can convey so much without a word spoken. But now that hugging or greeting someone with a handshake is inappropriate, we must use our words, our tone of voice, and the countenance on our faces to get the message across. Maybe that’s not such a bad thing. When you stop to think about it, sometimes a hug or a handshake can come across as forced or something done out of habit. But when we purposefully choose words of affirmation, encouragement, or forgiveness, the other person will be able to get the full meaning. And it will be especially so when we make sure those words are spoken with the right tone of voice. 

          Perhaps it’s more important now than ever before that we connect with other people. We need to let others know that they aren’t in this alone. While many have quarantined themselves, they still need a connection with people outside their physical space. We need to make more of an effort to let people know they are in our thoughts and prayers, and that we are willing to do whatever we can to help see them though these difficult and uncertain times.  But we must not neglect the great responsibility we have to direct people to God, the One who can give the greatest comfort and help. Our vision of what is really going on is so limited, but God is above it all and sees it all with perfect vision. We don’t have to understand the “why” of it all. We just need to know the “Who” that is over all.  (And, no, I’m not referring to the Word Health Organization.) We need to rest assured that God is still in control and that His love for us will never change. I believe He wants His children to demonstrate a peace and a calm that is only possible through Him. Max Lucado has an acronym that I think we all need to memorize to help us get through whatever lies ahead:

             C = Celebrate God’s Goodness

             A= Ask God for Help

             L = Leave your concerns with God

             M= Meditate on good things

          God is good all the time, and He is worthy of our praise in bad times as well as in good times. He is always available to listen to our concerns and to help us. His desire is that we give our concerns to Him and leave them there. Then He wants us to think on good things; things that fill our minds with hope and peace. 

          If we can speak truth to others and help them know the hope and peace that only Christ can give, then that will be worth more than the most loving hug or welcoming handshake. 

          But, being the hugger that I am, I can’t wait for the time when I can embrace my friends in a tight hug! J