I Need a Hug - Guest Blog by Doug Corbett

Sometimes a hug is all that is needed. A few years ago, my wife and I made a HealthCare Ministries trip to Mexico. It was our first. We were giving free medical and dental treatment and free eyeglasses to those who were in need of them. There were 18 of us on this trip and we all were enjoying making a small difference in other people's lives. On Monday, the first day the clinic was open, a certain Mexican lady came to the registration table to, what we thought, register for one of the services being offered. Much to my surprise, she said to me that she really didn't have any medical, dental or optical needs - she just came for the hugs!! She said she was so lonely that often she would go out into her back yard and hug a tree because she needed to hug something! And so that first day she received 18 hugs, one from every member of our team. She returned everyday of the 5 day clinic and received 18 hugs every day!! Christians are carriers of God's power. A simple, heartfelt hug provides a release of that holy, healing power. Always look for the opportunity to spread God's goodness daily and in a variety of ways.

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:28-31)