Key Bible Verse: "Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him" (Luke 15:20). Bonus Reading: Isaiah 40:10-11; 41:13

After a seminar, one man told me, "You don't understand how difficult it is for me to hold my three children. I grew up in a home with very formal parents who never hugged us kids. My dad showed his love by working hard and bringing home an excellent paycheck. My mom showered her love on us with wonderful home-cooked meals." I think he was looking for me to excuse him.

I replied, "I'm sorry that you didn't receive the power of physical touch in your home growing up. Yet it sounds like your parents did the best they could." He nodded in agreement.

I continued, "Now you can be the transitional generation and pass on to your children the love you received from your parents and the power of touch. No one said parenting would be easy, but you now know better. It will get easier."

His wife smiled and said, "He's going to need quite a bit of practice."

"Great!" I agreed, turning back to the man. "It sounds like you have three little ones you can 'practice' with, and probably your wife could also use a hug more often." His wife nodded in agreement.

I'd bet everyone in his family received a hug that day.

—Jim Burns in The 10 Building Blocks for a Happy Family

My Response: What would keep me from giving a hug to everyone in my family today?

Thought to Apply: Caresses are necessary to the life of the affections as leaves to the life of a tree. If wholly restrained, love will die at the roots.—NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE

Adapted from The 10 Building Blocks for a Happy Family (Regal, 2003) by permission.

Prayer for the Week

Help me, Lord, to empower my children by investing in their physical, emotional, and spiritual maturity.

				Try an Issue of Men of Integrity Free! Name Street Address City/State/Zip E-mail Address No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders. If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless. Give Men of Integrity as a gift Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!

FREE Newsletter Sign up for the Men of Integrity Newsletter    RSS Feed   RSS Help