Do You Need a Hug?

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I wish I knew how many hugs I give out each day as an Assistant Special Education Teacher.

I know I gave out many hugs over the years when I had my own classroom.  We are very careful these days with how and when we offer hugs to young children in the classroom.  In fact, you can often hear us ask the children "do you need a hug?" Sometimes they need and want one. Other times they just need to know we are acknowledging their feelings....usually feelings of frustration or confusion. Sometimes just sadness.

Last week we started our 6 week summer school program at the special education agency where I teach.  The master teacher in the room is very good with certain children of certain disabilities. My expertise tends to be with children who have speech/language issues and emotional/social issues.  She tends to specialize with children on the autism spectrum. We really do make a good team.

However, one of our new little girls......a child with autism and for the most part non-verbal although she communicates in other ways....gets easily frustrated and has tantrums along the lines of a child with social/emotional issues.  I gravitated towards her one day last week as she was having a "melt-down" over being very frustrated.  One adult in the room wants to just give her some space. I, however, sensed that all she really needed was a secure lap and a hug with some quiet music.....I hummed a made up song.....she crawled into my lap and I was able to hold her and rock her.  She's only 3.

And as I was rocking her, sitting on the floor, humming, and feeling her start to relax and calm down, I was reminded of Jesus with the little children when He told the disciples to let the children come to Him.  He didn't put them in a time away area....He took time to be with them!

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We are like children to the Lord.  He is our Father.  When we are frustrated, hurt, angry, joyful, scared...He is there to embrace us and hold us.....

...and just like I sang over that precious girl in my classroom, God sings over us, too!!

After the little girl calmed down, and her tears were wiped, she was at peace again!  She clearly enjoyed the music I was humming.......music is a universal language. This little girl didn't need me to verbalize anything...she just needed a safe space, a hug, and know someone was singing over her.

Are you needing a hug from the Father today? Allow Him to embrace you.......your soul, mind, and body will be at peace.