The Joy of Hugging!

1 Nephi 20:9-10

"Nevertheless, for my name's sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain from thee, that I cut thee not off.

For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction."

Friends are amazing.  The ability to hug someone, and it be a sincere heartfelt hug.  A sign of kindredness and trust.  Of equality and togetherness.  The moment that a hug takes place, there is no pride found.  Neither party is "above" the other in stature or status.  A heartfelt hug between friends is never instigated out of pride, or out of any means that gains one favor in the eyes of others.  It simply is an expression of brotherly (or sisterly) love.  

I imagine that Christ loved hugging people, and did so often.

It reminds me of a song titled "In His Embrace."

toes in the water

sunshine on my face

how did i end up in such a heavenly place?

my smile is immortal

it feels good on my lips

free of doubt and free of any fears is what this is

how long has it been since i was here

in his embrace

safe from the cold

i was here all along

but my eyes were closed

and i see the light

it lies in me

and i'll do whatever it takes

to stay in his embrace

feet in the quicksand

moonlight dark and dim

beside a lonely picture of the place that i was in

well, i've learned a little lesson

from the fury of my past

the times you feel alone are ones when you forgot to ask

for his saving grace to bring

his embrace

safe from the cold

i was here all along

but my eyes were closed

and i see the light

it lies in me

and i'll do whatever it takes

to stay in his embrace

these arms i cannot see

but they encircle me

in his embrace

safe from the cold

i was here all along

but my eyes were closed

and i see the light

it lies in me

and i'll do whatever it takes

to make sure that i'll always stay

in his embrace

There are a few lines in that song that really get me when I hear it..

"the times you feel alone are the ones when you forgot to ask for his saving grace."

And the last few lines really get me choked up..

"And I'll do whatever it takes to make sure that i'll always stay in His embrace."

I love imagining what it would feel like to receive a hug from my Savior.  Is there anything that would parallel to that feeling?  I can't think of anything.  That's a good thought to go to sleep pondering on.  I think I'll do just that.