Apparently it was so realistic that Gloria forgot where she was. As we were sitting on the float riding through downtown Piedmont, suddenly Gloria says “I think that man needs a hug”. Lisa and I looked at her and asked what she was talking about. She pointed to a gentleman seated way off the sidewalk alone, looking very sad. She said “he just looks like he needs a hug”. I said “well go hug him then, obviously God is telling you to”. Gloria jumped off the float and ran back to the man and proceeded to hug him and visit with him for a moment before running back to climb up on the float. As she obediently showed God’s love to this lonely man, everyone turned to see what she was doing. Someone said, “we’re not in Honduras anymore, you can’t just run up to people on the street and hug them”. I asked “why not? people here need God’s love too”. As Gloria resumed her seat on the float and we continued on down the parade path, she just smiled a smile that radiated from ear to ear. She had been obedient to that still small voice. I looked back to see the man wearing that same smile. He had received a hug from God.
I’m not sure why it’s so much easier for us to hug people and tell them of God’s love in Honduras or why they so eagerly accept us. I wonder if it’s just the perception that we are there on a mission and we become empowered to do things that we normally wouldn’t do at home? I think that there are people around us everyday that are just as eager to hear about our awesome God and feel His love through our actions. I know I, for one, could use a hug from God every now and then. So let’s continue our mission wherever we are. Look around and see who needs a hug from God today. Your kind word or action may be exactly what they need to see God.
