I had just stepped out of the shower, basking in the serenity of the soft music flowing through the air and the relaxing aroma from the candles strategically placed around my bathroom, when my Lil African walked in to say good night. Without stopping to think, I draped my robe around me and bid my baby a good night, giving her the usual hug and planted a soft kiss squarely on her forehead. She smiled contentedly, eyes closed.
I turned to resume my leisurely moment just as she reached for my arm and said, "Mom, hug me again. Please. You feel so warm."
For what seemed like an eternity, I stood there and hugged my little girl tightly. Now, this may seem like a simple mother-daughter hug but last night, it felt different. I was fully present as I held my baby, letting the warmth between us convey how much I love her and celebrate the gift she is to me.
We weren’t rushed by the urgency of a clock warning us of an impending deadline or the phone waiting to resume its function of transmitting voices through fiber-optic lines. No, this was a special moment where a teenager – my teenager - who still needs her mommy's hug was honest enough to ask for and indulge in it.
I am a hugger! I love to feel the warmth of my loved ones when we share a hug. Hugs are a powerful way for us to relay messages that could be as personal and simple, as they could be loaded with unspoken, heartfelt messages.
A quick hug can let a stranger or a friend know I am happy to see them for the first time or reconnect after a break. Sometimes, a firm hug that lingers may say “I really am happy to see you”; “Thank You”; “I appreciate you”; “I really don't want to leave”; “I miss you already.”
A simple "stolen" hug from the back could be a message of "I'll thank you later" or, well, a lot more. A close, tight hug can say “I love you”; “I've missed you” or “I just want to feel you close to me”. A light, yet tender hug could say “I've been looking forward to this quiet, tender moment with you, my love”.
The hug I shared with my baby last night transferred the warmth and love directly from a mother's heart to that of her little girl. I felt like I had my little girl firmly within my grasp. I felt her rhythmic breath silently saying “I love you, Mommy”. The tight, lingering embrace carved a message of “Mom, please protect me and continue to hold me close to your heart”. Her head on my chest and the look of contentment on her face told me that her ears heard my heart beat a message that she was safe with me and that she will always hold that special place. For that forever moment, no one and nothing else existed in a world normally charged with unlimited activity.
Last night, I stopped for as long as necessary to use a powerful gift I have to send a message in a way that words could not express. For that moment, time stopped as we reached deep within to convey an important message in a universal language. That moment was just one in an infinite series waiting to be created over and over, with special people who can fully understand the unspoken language of hugs.
Here's the best part of it all: there is no translation needed, no knowledge of morse codes, no currency necessary to barter, no prescription to be filled. It is free of charge, available worldwide and it is not an endangered species.
So, if you've ever held back on dishing out hugs to those deserving, I hope I've reassured you that the supply is endless and the language universal. You can thank me later...with a hug.
Not to worry, no prescription needed.
~~Vic~~
I turned to resume my leisurely moment just as she reached for my arm and said, "Mom, hug me again. Please. You feel so warm."
For what seemed like an eternity, I stood there and hugged my little girl tightly. Now, this may seem like a simple mother-daughter hug but last night, it felt different. I was fully present as I held my baby, letting the warmth between us convey how much I love her and celebrate the gift she is to me.
We weren’t rushed by the urgency of a clock warning us of an impending deadline or the phone waiting to resume its function of transmitting voices through fiber-optic lines. No, this was a special moment where a teenager – my teenager - who still needs her mommy's hug was honest enough to ask for and indulge in it.
I am a hugger! I love to feel the warmth of my loved ones when we share a hug. Hugs are a powerful way for us to relay messages that could be as personal and simple, as they could be loaded with unspoken, heartfelt messages.
A quick hug can let a stranger or a friend know I am happy to see them for the first time or reconnect after a break. Sometimes, a firm hug that lingers may say “I really am happy to see you”; “Thank You”; “I appreciate you”; “I really don't want to leave”; “I miss you already.”
A simple "stolen" hug from the back could be a message of "I'll thank you later" or, well, a lot more. A close, tight hug can say “I love you”; “I've missed you” or “I just want to feel you close to me”. A light, yet tender hug could say “I've been looking forward to this quiet, tender moment with you, my love”.
The hug I shared with my baby last night transferred the warmth and love directly from a mother's heart to that of her little girl. I felt like I had my little girl firmly within my grasp. I felt her rhythmic breath silently saying “I love you, Mommy”. The tight, lingering embrace carved a message of “Mom, please protect me and continue to hold me close to your heart”. Her head on my chest and the look of contentment on her face told me that her ears heard my heart beat a message that she was safe with me and that she will always hold that special place. For that forever moment, no one and nothing else existed in a world normally charged with unlimited activity.
Last night, I stopped for as long as necessary to use a powerful gift I have to send a message in a way that words could not express. For that moment, time stopped as we reached deep within to convey an important message in a universal language. That moment was just one in an infinite series waiting to be created over and over, with special people who can fully understand the unspoken language of hugs.
Here's the best part of it all: there is no translation needed, no knowledge of morse codes, no currency necessary to barter, no prescription to be filled. It is free of charge, available worldwide and it is not an endangered species.
So, if you've ever held back on dishing out hugs to those deserving, I hope I've reassured you that the supply is endless and the language universal. You can thank me later...with a hug.
Not to worry, no prescription needed.
~~Vic~~
Very true, Vic. Very true!
ReplyDeleteI hereby send you a virtual hug - a virtual hug to you my sister, my friend, my confidante and my conscience...lol. You will receive the hard copy(ies) in due course!