Of Hugs and Prayers

I like hugs. There’s something about them that makes me happy. Maybe because I’m Puerto Rican and we love physical contact or maybe just the fact that hugs are awesome. It’s easy to go days without hugs, depending on the people you surround yourself or maybe because we get so used to living our lives like that. There are studies that say that physical touch can have mental and physical benefits and I can understand why.

Today, while spending my vacation in new Zealand, I saw an American lady that had I met last week, her name is Naomi. Something like this happened:

Naomi: Rand, how are you doing?

Me: I’m doing well, and you.

Naomi: Good, can I give you a hug?

Me: Of course. (We hugged and I felt a slight snap in her back, hopefully nothing serious, but I digress…)

Naomi: I’ve been praying for you and Ben, especially for you, so God will guide you and show you what direction to take in the next few weeks. Do you have an idea of what is the next step.

Me: Thank you a lot, I really need it. I am getting glimpses of some of the decisions I’ll be making but nothing fully clear yet.

Naomi: Well, know that I am praying and God will lead you in the right way. Please cover me and my husband in prayer.

Me: Of course. (I’ve been praying for them)

You may not see it as much but the fact that she hugged me and told me that she was praying for me was enough to give me some comfort that I really needed at the moment.

Sometimes we hold back and don’t tell others what we think or feel for fear of being inappropriate. Sometimes we feel God prompting a word or a prayer inside of us to share with someone but we keep it to ourselves for fear of being labeled as spiritual loonies and we prevent those we are called to blessed from receiving their blessing.

Hug someone today.