By Dr. Philip West
There are times when a good hug can make everything seem better and help you to forget what’s going on around you.
God created us with a need for healthy human contact, and a warm, sincere hug can have emotional, physical, and even spiritual benefits.
Research has shown that a caring hug can reduce stress, promote feelings of safety and comfort, lower blood pressure and heart rate, reduce feelings of loneliness, encourage emotional healing, and strengthen relationships.
There are times when words may fail, but a hug communicates, “I care,” “I’m here,” and “You’re not alone.”
Not everyone is comfortable with physical touch, so a hug should always be welcomed and appropriate.
When the prodigal son returned home, his father “ran and embraced him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). That embrace communicated forgiveness, acceptance, and love before a single explanation was offered.
There are people in your life who need a loving hug, whether it is a spouse, a family member, or a dear friend. A hug is one of God’s gifts that reminds us that we are loved, valued, and not alone in life’s journey.
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