A Good Word Wednesday #30

Speak the language of love ❤️🤗The world is short on hugs.

Everybody needs good words of hope and encouragement! Please share this edition with your friends and family and invite them to join us! Thank you!

Good Word of the Day: Hugs

I actually had another “H” word of the day to share with you today. I will save that one for next week, so stay tuned for that. Last week, I invited you to offer a word of the day to post here. I received a great one from my good friend, Emily. She said, “The world is short on hugs. A lot of times, when I pray for someone, I ask God to wrap His arms around them and let them feel hugged by Him.”

That’s beautiful, Emily. Thank you for sharing. Here is one of my favorite photos of a hug:

These are my two oldest granddaughters sharing a sweet moment several years ago on family vacation. Sisterly love expressed in a hug.

It got me thinking about love this week. Valentine’s Day will come right before next week’s Good Word. This is our week to consider the language of love. Remember the book “The Five Love Languages,” by Gary Chapman? (Link is in the Recommend section below.) The bestseller was published in 1992 and has been republished multiple times since and given birth to six other Love Language titles.

For me, like so many others, it revolutionized the idea of how to express love to your spouse in five significant and profound ways. My love language is the first one mentioned: Words of Affirmation. Of course this is mine — it has the word “Words” in it. My love language doesn’t cost anything. It doesn’t take much time. Just give me a few words of compliment or encouragement occasionally to spur me onward. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy for some people to do. We intuitively want to give what we are most familiar with. However, for my Johnny, he best receives love through Acts of Service. He sees love when I bring him things or do things for him that he sometimes doesn’t even ask for, because I know him so well and intuitively understand his needs. For my children and grandchildren, they all need the language of love expressed in quality time — reading or coloring together, having a snack or meal together, or playing on the swing set. Other people feel loved by receiving a gift, small or large, that lets them know they are seen and treasured.

And then there is the language of physical touch. That brings us to our word of the day — Hugs. Sometimes, people in my life just need a Momma hug. That’s what I call them. My son-in-law is the guy who gives me a hug every time I see him. It’s a real-life connection that speaks love to him. In our post-Covid world, we are getting reacquainted with this love language. For a year or two, it was a “no no” to approach someone and violate their personal germ-free space. I still find myself asking, “Are you a hugger?” before I actually offer a big ‘ole hug to someone who looks like they need it.

My challenge to you this week is to spend time offering the specified language of love to your spouse, your children, family, friends and church family. If you don’t know what your spouse’s love language is, this week is a perfect time to find out.

Wednesday in the Word

“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24

There are many references in scripture of Jesus using the ministry of touch to heal, cleanse and give back life. Here is one of my favorites:

“Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” Mark 5:41

Good Unseen People

Ever wonder how a book is born and makes its way into a big, scary world? This is my publishing story so far. Go to Unseen People - The Book and scroll down to the section: THE UNSEEN PROCESS — How The Book, Unseen People, Is Being Born. I will keep you posted on the process and the progress of my publishing journey.

Words I Recommend

A Good Song: Love Lifted Me. This is an oldie but a goodie. This is how Jesus loves us — Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help, Love lifted me.

A Good Book: The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. This is the book referenced above. Revisit it this week.

A Good Blog: The Two Shall Become One This is from Stories for Global Good written last year. Johnny and I will celebrate 40 years of marriage in July.

We must be doing something right! Here are a few words of wisdom I’ve collected along the way to share with you. What piece of advice do you have for young couples?

Some of the words I recommend have associate links. All that mean is, if you click on them and purchase, I receive some support to continue this good work every Wednesday. Thank you in advance!

A Final Good Word

The best good news on Valentine’s Week is this — “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16.

Until next week, share the good word of the love of Jesus with someone today.

Gratefully yours,