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What follows are a few random thoughts you might enjoy.

HUGS!!

There are few things as simple, basic and yet overlooked as hugs. We all need to give and receive hugs, yet this does not happen. Why? I hope to make some sense of it all and help others in the process.

Think back to when you were a child and the mean old world was out to get you. You ran to Mom or Dad and wanted and needed to be held and thus protected from what was after you. You felt a peace that could not be explained. Our children need the same from us. Most of us do give our children the hugs they need.

But something has happened in the world to take away some of that simplicity. "Society" has decreed that the boogey-man of sexuality is lurking everywhere. Families are no longer as stable as they used to be. Single parents find it harder to find the time to nurture as well as they would like.

When the child is young there is little problem. No one thinks anything of a Dad or Mom giving a big bear hug to one of their small children. But let that same child reach puberty and all of a sudden questions arise. That is grossly unfair to the child and the parents. Remember when you were going through that time. Did you need any less love and reassurance? I think not. If anything you needed more.

Now regarding sexuality I would first like to address the area of changes in the child/young adult and then our responses to those changes. God designed us to go through a process so that we can continue the human race. These changes make us more attractive to the opposite sex. There is nothing wrong as such with these changes. Secondary sexual characteristics will happen. Girls will look like young ladies! Boys will look like young men! Viva la difference! But how do we as adults respond?

We need to come to an understanding of how God made us. We as men will be attracted to this new young lady. We as women will be interested in this new young man. The initial, automatic response is built in. We need to know how to handle our response. God would have us continue our love toward our children regardless of their age. This love is not to be any less or more than we have shown in the past.

When a child needs a hug, he or she needs a hug and without any reservations. Think of the message a child might receive if all of a sudden Mom or Dad no longer offers to hug. Do they still love me? Yes we need to keep our sexual responses under strict control and God will help us. But please do not stop giving and receiving hugs because your child is maturing.

In like manner there will be those times when we come across children and young adults that have lost one or both parents. If God moves you to give a hug in these instances I offer a bit of advice. If a parent is available please talk it over with the parent. Whether or not a parent is available you should not give a hug without first asking if it is O.K. with the person you intend to hug. Always be under Gods control and be in a public area and not in any way hidden such that any wrong impressions could arise.