AFFECTION

AFFECTION

“Quality of Life Series”

10/12/04

LEADER: Are you a hugger?

When you embrace do you give a quick glancing encounter or is a big bear hug more your style. Does your hug say, “You’re special; I care.” Or does it say, “I’m doing this because I think I have to.” Does the one you’re hugging know they’ve been hugged?

HAVE SOMEONE READ: QUOTE #1

http://www.entwagon.com/cgi-bin/quotes/quotes.pl?cat=Affection

“Don't be afraid of showing affection. Be warm and tender, thoughtful and affectionate. Men are more helped by sympathy than by service. Love is more than money, and a kind word will give more pleasure than a present.”

Sir John Lubbock 1834-1913, British Statesman, Banker

HAVE SOMEONE READ: “Hugs” POEM by Jill Wolf

http://www.gagirl.com/hugs/hug.html

There's something in a simple hug
That always warms the heart;
It welcomes us back home
And makes it easier to part.

A hug's a way to share the joy
And sad times we go through,
Or just a way for friends to say
They like you 'cause you're you.

Hugs are meant for anyone
For whom we really care,
From your grandma to your neighbor,
Or a cuddly teddy bear.

A hug is an amazing thing -
It's just the perfect way
To show the love we're feeling
But can't find the words to say.

It's funny how a little hug
Makes everyone feel good;
In every place and language,
It's always understood.

And hugs don't need new equipment,
Special batteries or parts -
Just open up your arms
And open up your hearts.

HAVE SOMEONE READ: “Paper Clip Hugs”

http://www.sermonillustrator.org/illustrator/sermon2c/paper_clip_hugs.htm

Georgia, a friend of my wife's, was recently divorced and trying to raise her two sons when the Gulf War broke out. She heard about soldiers in the service who had no family and needed pen pals. Letters addressed to "Any Soldier" were distributed by commanding officers who noticed any soldiers getting little or no mail. Georgia wrote to 25 such soldiers almost daily, most of them men.

Keeping up with 25 pen pals on a daily basis almost consumed Georgia's time and talents. She sent poems, little stories, and words of hope and encouragement. When there were time constraints, she would write one letter and copy it for everyone. Greetings were sent whenever she knew about a special event, like a birthday.

One day, Georgia received a letter from a soldier that was depressed and discouraged. She pondered as to how she could help lift his spirits. It was then that she noticed that at work there were paper clips of various colors. Georgia took one of the yellow paper clips and photo copied it in the palm of her hand. She sent this picture with the paper clip with the following message:

"This yellow paper clip that you see in my hand represents a hug that I am sending to you. You can carry this paper clip in a pocket or anywhere, and whenever you feel down, you can just touch and hold it and know that somebody cares about you, and would give you a hug if she were there."

Georgia sent a copy of this picture along with a paper clip and the message to each of her other correspondents. After the war ended, Georgia received one of the pictures of her hand holding the yellow paper clip, and on the back were over 150 signatures of people that had been given her "hug."

During the years, Georgia named other paper clips. Pink came to mean a kiss, green was for good luck, and so on. Years later, Georgia was giving a class as part of a seminar for positive thinking. She shared with the members of the class her paper clip symbolism, and made a bracelet of multicolored paper clips for each of them. One of the women exclaimed "So you're the one!"

The class member told Georgia that she was visiting her brother and needed something to hold papers together. She had noticed a yellow paper clip on the refrigerator held there with a magnet. She borrowed the paper clip for her papers. When the brother saw it, he grabbed it and scolded her, and told her never to touch the yellow paper clip again. Now she knew why.

No one will never know how far her message has spread, nor how many lives have been touched by a simple yellow paper clip.

HAVE SOMEONE READ: “The Hugging Judge” #1

By Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen from Condensed Chicken Soup for the Soul

http://www.sermonillustrator.org/illustrator/sermon1/hugging.htm

Lee Shapiro is a retired judge. He is also one of the most genuinely loving people we know. At one point in his career, Lee realized that love is the greatest power there is. As a result, Lee became a hugger. He began offering everybody a hug. His colleagues dubbed him "the hugging judge" (as opposed to the hanging judge, we suppose). The bumper sticker on his car reads, "Don't bug me! Hug me!"

About six years ago Lee created what he calls his Hugger Kit. On the outside it reads "A heart for a hug." The inside contains thirty little red embroidered hearts with stickums on the back. Lee will take out his Hugger Kit, go around to people and offer them a little red heart in exchange for a hug.

Lee has become so well known for this that he is often invited to keynote conferences and conventions, where he shares his message of unconditional love. At a conference in San Francisco, the local news media challenged him by saying, "It is easy to give out hugs here in the conference to people who self-selected to be here. But this would never work in the real world."

They challenged Lee to give away some hugs on the streets of San Francisco. Followed by a television crew from the local news station, Lee went out onto the street. First he approached a woman walking by. "Hi, I'm Lee Shapiro, the hugging judge. I'm giving out these hearts in exchange for a hug." "Sure," she replied. "Too easy," challenged the local commentator. Lee looked around. He saw a meter maid who was being given a hard time by the owner of a BMW to whom she was giving a ticket. He marched up to her, camera crew in tow, and said, "You look like you could use a hug. I'm the hugging judge and I'm offering you one." She accepted.

The television commentator threw down one final challenge. "Look, here comes a bus. San Francisco bus drivers are the toughest, crabbiest, meanest people in the whole town. Let's see you get him to hug you." Lee took the challenge.

As the bus pulled up to the curb, Lee said, "Hi, I'm Lee Shapiro, the hugging judge. This has got to be one of the most stressful jobs in the whole world. I'm offering hugs to people today to lighten the load a little. Would you like one? The six-foot-two, 230-pound bus driver got out of his seat, stepped down and said, "Why not?"

Lee hugged him, gave him a heart and waved goodbye as the bus pulled out. The TV crew was speechless. Finally, the commentator said, "I have to admit, I'm very impressed."

HAVE SOMEONE READ: “The Hugging Judge” #2

By Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen from Condensed Chicken Soup for the Soul

http://www.sermonillustrator.org/illustrator/sermon1/hugging.htm

One day Lee's friend Nancy Johnston showed up on his doorstep. Nancy is a professional clown an she was wearing her clown costume, makeup and all.

"Lee, grab a bunch of your Hugger Kits and let's go out to the home for the disabled."

When they arrived at the home, they started giving out balloon hats, hearts and hugs to the patients. Lee was uncomfortable. He had never before hugged people who were terminally ill, severely retarded or quadriplegic. It was definitely a stretch. But after a while it became easier with Nancy and Lee acquiring an entourage of doctors, nurses and orderlies who followed them from ward to ward.

After several hours they entered the last ward. These were 34 of the worst cases Lee had seen in his life. The feeling was so grim it took his heart away. But out of their commitment to share their love and to make a difference, Nancy and Lee started working their way around the room followed by the entourage of medical staff, all of whom by now had hearts on their collars and balloon hats on their heads.

Finally, Lee came to the last person, Leonard. Leonard was wearing a big white bib which he was drooling on. Lee looked at Leonard dribbling onto his bib and said, "Let's go, Nancy, there's no way we can get through to this person." Nancy replied, "C'mon, Lee. He's a fellow human being, too, isn't he?" Then she placed a funny balloon hat on his head. Lee took one of his little red hearts and placed it on Leonard's bib. He took a deep breath, leaned down and gave Leonard a hug.

All of a sudden Leonard began to squeal, "Eeeeehh! Eeeeeehh!" Some of the other patients in the room began to clang things together. Lee turned to the staff for some sort of explanation only to find that every doctor, nurse and orderly was crying. Lee asked the head nurse, "What's going on?"

Lee will never forget what she said: "This is the first time in 23 years we've ever seen Leonard smile."

How simple it is to make a difference in the lives of others.

HAVE SOMEONE READ: QUOTE #2

http://www.entwagon.com/cgi-bin/quotes/quotes.pl?cat=Affection

“Yes, I do touch. I believe that everyone needs that… I love to hold people's hands when I visit hospitals, even though they are shocked because they haven't experienced anything like it before, but to me it is a normal thing to do.”

Diana Princess of Wales 1961-1997

HAVE SOMEONE READ: “He Kissed A Leper” by Dick Innes

http://www.sermonillustrator.org/illustrator/sermon1/hekissed.htm

I read that Francis of Assisi was terrified of leprosy. One day while traveling on a narrow path, he came face to face with a leper. For fear of contamination by the loathsome disease, he instinctively put as much distance as possible between himself and this stranger as he passed by. Immediately he felt convicted so turned around, ran back, cast his arms around the sufferer's neck, kissed him, and passed on.
A moment later he looked back. There was no one there. All he could see was the empty path. For the rest of his days he was sure that the stranger whom he had embraced wasn't a leper, but Christ himself.

HAVE SOMEONE READ: QUOTE #3

http://www.entwagon.com/cgi-bin/quotes/quotes.pl?cat=Affection

“Caresses, expressions of one sort or another, are necessary to the life of the affections as leaves are to the life of a tree. If they are wholly restrained, love will die at the roots.”

Nathaniel Hawthorne 1804-1864, American Author

LEADER: “Touch Me” By Louis McBurney

http://www.christianitytoday.com/mp/2002/001/1.26.html

About fifty years ago John Bowlby, author of Attachment, showed that we humans need something more than just food, water, oxygen, and physical shelter. He discovered that we could, as infants, receive all of those things and yet waste away without one other essential nurturing element: touch. Babies who were not cuddled sank into depressive states, quit eating, and died. And we never grow out of the desire and requirement for physical contact.

HAVE SOMEONE READ: “Koby’s Monthly Komments” EXCERPT

http://www.childresearch.net/CYBRARY/KOBY/MESS/cbse0010.html

During World War II, many countries were helplessly transformed into battlefields. Germany, for example, a country that was quite devastated after the war, suffered many consequences, but today I would like to focus on one, the orphans of war. The victims of any war are the women and children. However, the victorious United States, extended a helping hand and helped to set up many orphanages. At the time, they were only able to give the children a fixed amount of food, but gave these children a safe place to reside.

In one English occupied territory, there were two orphanages, which I shall call "A", and "B". Dr. Widowson, a lady nutritional scientist, realized that, although the amount of food given to the children in orphanage A and orphanage B were exactly the same, the children in orphanage A were gaining more weight than those in orphanage B.

Dr. Widowson was suddenly inspired and believed there was a key to this difference in weight gain. She began to examine the conditions of the orphans in both places with careful observations. She came to realize that the nanny in orphanage A was young and affectionate, while the nanny in orphanage B was elderly and very strict. In addition, the nannies in orphanage B had eight "favorite orphans", and those orphans showed weight increases which were in between the other orphans in B and those in A.

During her observations, the "affectionate nanny" in orphanage A retired and the strict nanny from orphanage B brought the eight favorite orphans to orphanage A together and took over. On the other hand, they hired a new nanny for orphanage B and consciously chose an affectionate nanny to take the place of the strict one. Furthermore, they decided to try to keep the amount of food given to the orphans in B as before (who were now under the care of the affectionate nanny), and to increase the amount of food given to the orphans in A (who had originally gained more weight than those in B, but were now under the care of the strict nanny).

Imagine what happened to the weight measurement curve! The orphans in orphanage B (cared by the affectionate nanny) steadily gained weight, and those in orphanage A, whose weight had been increasing prior to the change in nanny care and who now were given more food than those in B, failed to show any better weight gain. After six months, the weight curve for both orphanages became reversed respectively. The eight "favorite orphans" now outweighed the orphans in both situations.

Affectionate care facilitated the smooth functioning of the orphans' psychological and physical programming. These children were observed as having "joie de vivre" (joy of life), and displayed a liveliness which was not seen in the other orphans. This, in turn, fine-tuned the development program and the vicious cycle of development kicked in.

LEADER: “Koby’s Monthly Komments” CONTINUED

http://www.childresearch.net/CYBRARY/KOBY/MESS/cbse0010.html

It was the "affection" factor that helped the children's development, and the observations revealed that these children had bright eyes and seemed very happy. Consequently, the children vocalized their joy, played happily and therefore, their various systems (digestive, circulatory) and their metabolism, circadian rhythm and growth hormone secretion functioned smoothly facilitating their development. Therefore, in order for the psychological and physical program to function smoothly, "affection" seems to be a critical element.

LEADER: Maybe you come from a home where you knew you were loved but hugs were not passed out freely. Maybe giving affection comes hard for you, because you never really learned how. Well as the sign on President Harry Truman’s desk said, “The Buck Stops Here”. We have a choice…through Christ we can learn to be demonstrative in our affection for others and start living in the present, making changes for the future, overcoming the past.

Or maybe you don’t feel worthy to be loved or hugged. Christ says you are. He loved you even to death on the cross.

Or maybe you come from a long line of huggers and don’t understand those who are harder to hug. This is where Christian love and compassion comes in. You can love that person gently, letting them experience the love of Christ through you.

HAVE SOMEONE READ: “Why Your Teen Still Needs Hugs” EXERPT

http://www.christianitytoday.com/cpt/9g5/9g5058.html

Gary Arthur doesn’t remember getting a lot of physical affection from his father. In fact, it wasn’t until his dad neared the end of his life that Gary even hugged him.

Perhaps this lack of intimacy has caused Gary to raise his sons differently. It’s obvious, when you meet the Arthur boys, that they’re no strangers to touch. Even the teenagers have no qualms about draping themselves around their dad or giving their mom a bear hug in public.

"I felt such a void in my own life, I chose to express my love physically to the boys," explains Gary, a pastor and father of four. "Even when they were asleep, I would come in and give them a kiss. I never felt uncomfortable about it or set up any guards."

Gary’s physical interaction with his boys wasn’t limited to hugging and kissing. "From Day One, Gary showed lots of physical affection to the boys," says his wife, Connie. "As infants, he held them in his hands. When they got a little older, he would put them on his feet and toss them. There was a lot of fun associated with his affection."

Touch is important to a child’s well-being. Research has shown, for example, that premature infants who are held or massaged gain weight faster than those left alone. But while most parents have no reservations about hugging and kissing infants and small children, physical contact tends to diminish as children approach adolescence. Maybe it’s because kids are less lovable in the middle years—mood swings, misbehavior and poor attitudes may bridle a parent’s inclination to reach out and embrace a child. Or maybe it’s because teens themselves often resist public displays of parental affection.

Yet kids this age need evidence that they’re loved. "Many teenagers worry about whether their parents will continue to love them when they are no longer little or cute," writes Lawrence Steinberg, Ph.D., co-author of You and Your Adolescent (HarperPerennial). "Adolescents need to be reassured that nothing—neither their growing maturity, their moods, their misbehavior, nor your anger at something they’ve done—can shake your basic commitment to them."

And be sure to end any confrontation with eye contact, a smile and a good hug.

HAVE SOMEONE READ: “A Father’s Touch” EXCERPT

http://www.christianitytoday.com/moi/2001/005/oct/19.19.html

The film "Shadowlands" is based on the story of the marriage of C. S. Lewis to Joy Gresham. Lewis, the great British professor and Christian apologist, was more in touch with his head than his heart. He found expressing his feelings to be a demanding challenge.

In the film, we see his wife succumb to cancer. Lewis is left to comfort her young son as well as confront his own grief. There's a scene in which young Douglas Gresham weeps in Lewis's presence. The professor's hand awkwardly hovers above the boy's shoulders, then pulls back. He can't offer physical affection.

Later, he unleashes his pent-up emotions. The old man holds the little boy and they weep together, finding a measure of comfort in their shared loss.

Many men have it exactly wrong. Hugging and physical affection are in no way signs of weakness. A man imparts strength through the gift of touch. Our children deeply need to feel our embrace.

Many of us were never touched by our fathers; that's why we're reluctant and restrained. But to the extent that we withhold physical affection, we withhold the strong affirmation of our love.

LEADER: Have you hugged your kid today, how about your spouse, your parent, your friend.

Remember you’re never to old to hug or be hugged.

HAVE SOMEONE READ: 2 Corinthians 6:12-13

¹² You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections. ¹³ Now in a like exchange--I speak as to children--open wide to us also.

HAVE SOMEONE READ: Philippians 1:7-8
⁷ For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. ⁸ For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

HAVE SOMEONE READ: John 15:12

¹² "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.

LEADER: How are we to love?

Is it an option?

Christ says it’s a command.

The fact is it is of such importance to the Lord that we show love for one another that in the New Testament this command is repeated to us more than any other except for the command to believe in the Lord Jesus as our personal Saviour.

(From: “Christian Affections I” By Steven Fournier EXCERPT

http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=61999&ContributorID=1571)

HAVE SOMEONE READ: I John 3:23

²³ This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.

HAVE SOMEONE READ: I Thessalonians 4:9

⁹ Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;

LEADER: “Christian Affections I” By Steven Fournier EXCERPT CONT:

http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=61999&ContributorID=1571

We need to remember the fact that God loves us in spite of all your faults. He loves in spite of the fact that on our own you fall dreadfully short of what he expects from us. So you have no right not to love a brother or sister in Christ because they fall short in your eyes.
The love which God has for us allows Him to look beyond our faults through Christ. And we have that same love in us by which we should look beyond the faults of others in Christ.

HAVE SOMEONE READ: I John 3:18

¹⁸ Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.

LEADER: “Christian Affections I” By Steven Fournier EXCERPT CONT:

http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=61999&ContributorID=1571

In other words 1 John 3:18 tells us to put our money where are mouth is. Don’t just tell some one you love them, show them you love them. God did not just "love in word or in tongue" but God loved in deed and in truth, by sending His only begotten Son to die for us that we could have eternal life. And this is the same type of love which the Bible tells us that God has poured out into our hearts through His Holy Spirit. A love which is a love of concern and action.

HAVE SOMEONE READ: “Little Acts of Love” Our Daily Bread 4/14/02

http://www.gospelcom.net/rbc/results.shtml?q=affection&np=1&m=&ps=10&ul=%2Frbc%2F

You yourselves are taught by God to love one another.

1 Thessalonians 4:9

When I was a young boy, I knew that my father was extremely fond of black walnuts. We didn't often get them, so the day I found one on the ground I was delighted! My first thought was to have my mother crack it so I could eat it myself, but then my love for my father took over. I saved it for him.

When he came home that evening, I gave him the walnut and said, "Here, Papa, I've been saving it all day just for you!" I thought it strange that he didn't want to crack it and eat it right away. It was not until 30 years later, after he had died, that I found it again. It was in a special place in his desk. Mother told me he considered it such a sincere token of my deep affection for him that he kept it as a memento.

Little acts of love are often appreciated far more than we realize. So let's keep in mind God's command to "love one another" (1 Thessalonians 4:9). By the power of the Holy Spirit, let's exchange our self-centered attitudes for heartfelt words and deeds that show our love.

Don't delay in performing even the smallest act of love today. Believe me, it will be appreciated, and it will be richly rewarded by the Lord. Little acts of love can make a big difference. — (Henry G. Bosch}

Like refreshing rain in summer
Or the gentle breeze in spring,
Just a little gift of kindness
Joy to someone's heart can bring. —Hess

To make a big difference in life, show a little love.

LEADER: We are to demonstrate our love.

Ways to show love could be:

· Sending a note of encouragement or thanks

· Share something that is good about a person with others

· A phone call or visit to someone going through a particularly rough time.

· A small token of love…a baked gift…a flower, a walnut.

· A HUG.

HAVE SOMEONE READ: “Christian Affection II” By Steven Fournier EXCERPT

http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=62000&ContributorID=1571

There lived a Greek writer by the name of Lucian who lived around 120-200 AD. This man was an unbeliever, who notice a certain thing about Christians. He wrote the following, "It is incredible to see the fervor with which the people of that religion help each other in their wants. They spare nothing. Their first legislator, (Jesus) has put it into their heads that they are brethren."
What Lucian had noticed about the Christians of his day was that they shared a amazing love for one another. A love that was so very clear to the rest of the world.

HAVE SOMEONE READ: Romans 12:9-21 (ALL TURN TO)

⁹   Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; ¹¹ not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; ¹²  rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, ¹³ contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
¹⁴   Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. ¹⁷ Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. ¹⁹ Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord.
²⁰   "BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD."
²¹   Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

LEADER: Sounds like showing Christian affection has to do with

· Devotion

· Honor

· Diligence

· Service

· Contribution

· Hospitality

· forgiveness

HAVE SOMEONE READ: “How to Hug”

http://www.pbc.org/dp/stedman/romans2/3531.html

I want to comment briefly on the title of this message, How To Hug. This was suggested to me by a story I once heard about a man who was walking down the street. He passed a used book store, and in the window he saw a book with this title, How To Hug. He was taken by the title and, being of a somewhat romantic nature, went in to buy the book. To his chagrin, he discovered that it was the third volume of an encyclopedia and covered the subjects "How" to "Hug."

I have often thought, as I think of that story, that the church is like that. Everyone knows that the church is a place where love ought to be manifested, and many people have come to church hoping to find a demonstration of love, only to discover an encyclopedia on theology. But I am grateful that God is changing that today. Thank God that hugs are returning to the churches. Here we often greet each other with a hug, and I think that is great. In the early church the Christians actually greeted one another with a holy kiss. You don't see that too often these days, but perhaps it is coming back. At least we have begun to hug one another. Once in a while you see somebody greet someone with a kiss -- I don't know if it is holy or not -- but we have at least begun to hug. That is great, because that is what the church is to be like.

If you have read through this passage, Romans 12:9-21, you can see that the theme is clearly given in the very first sentence: "Love must be sincere." Our English word sincere comes from the Latin sincerus, which means "without wax." It stems from a practice of the early Roman merchants who set their earthen and porcelain jars out for sale. If a crack appeared in one, they would fill it with wax the same color as the jar, so a buyer would not be aware that it was cracked. But astute buyers learned to hold these jars out in the sun, and if the jar was cracked, the wax would melt and the crack would be revealed. So the honest merchants would test their wares this way and mark them sincerus -- without wax. The word literally reflects what the Greek says here, "Let love be without hypocrisy." The Revised Standard Version translates it, "Let love be genuine." Phillips says, "Let us have no imitation Christian love."

HAVE SOMEONE READ: Hebrews 13:1

¹ Let love of the brethren continue

HAVE SOMEONE READ: I Peter 4:8

⁸ Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

HAVE SOMEONE READ: I Peter 1:22

²² Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,

HAVE SOMEONE READ: I Corinthians 13:4-7

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, ⁵ does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, ⁶ does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; ⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

HAVE SOMEONE READ: John 13:34-35

³⁴ "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ³⁵ "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

LEADER: “Christian Affections I” By Steven Fournier EXCERPT CONT:

http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=61999&ContributorID=1571

Let’s love one another that God may be glorified and Christ be seen in us all.

HAVE SOMEONE READ: QUOTE #4

http://www.dhq.nu/wanderingmind/affection.asp

“Of all earthly music, that which reaches the farthest into heaven is the beating of a loving heart.”

Henry Ward Beecher 1813 - 1887 US abolitionist & clergyman

HAVE SOMEONE READ: QUOTE #5

http://www.angelfire.com/mi/peachypenguin/quotes/friend.html
Some people come into our lives and quickly go.
Some stay a while and leave footprints on our hearts.
And we are never, ever the same.
~ Unknown ~

HAVE SOMEONE READ: “A Poem” by Jane C. Simpson

http://www.cfdevotionals.org/devpages/de970916.htm

If ever I have caused a tear
To dim another's eye,
If ever hath been heaved through me
The heart-subduing sigh;

If ever a word or look of mine,
In haste or anger given,
Hath stung to pain another's soul,
I pardon ask of Heaven.

To pluck the thorns from other's path,
And plant it o'er with flowers,
To pour perpetual sunshine round,
Can ne'er, alas! Be ours:

But thousand little deeds of love,
Each day, each hour, may send
A thrill of joy to glad the eye
And bosom of a friend.

A gentle smile, a tender tone,
A glance of kindly ray.
Than wealth or fame more worth have owned,
To smooth life's wint'ry way:

We cannot shower our health or gold
On all we hold most dear,
Yet many wiles affection hath
To chase the rising tear!

And oh! If ever deed of mine,
Or accent rightly spoken,
Hath helped to cheer another's soul
By silent sorrow broken;

If e'er another's heart hath beat
More glad and warm and free;
If e'er another's eye hath caught
A happier light from me;

A tenfold sum of grateful praise
To thee my soul would give,
Oh thou Eternal Source of good,
By whom we love and live.

LEADER: “Let's Hug”

http://www.angelfire.com/mi/peachypenguin/quotes/friend.html
There's a hug to say I love you
And a hug to say goodbye
There's a hug to say how are you
And a hug to say we tried
There's a hug to bond a friendship
And a hug when the day is through
But the hug I love in all the world
Is the hug I get from you.

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QUOTE #1

Sir John Lubbock 1834-1913, British Statesman, Banker

“Hugs” by Jill Wolf

There's something in a simple hug
That always warms the heart;
It welcomes us back home
And makes it easier to part.

A hug's a way to share the joy
And sad times we go through,
Or just a way for friends to say
They like you 'cause you're you.

Hugs are meant for anyone
For whom we really care,
From your grandma to your neighbor,
Or a cuddly teddy bear.

A hug is an amazing thing -
It's just the perfect way
To show the love we're feeling
But can't find the words to say.

It's funny how a little hug
Makes everyone feel good;
In every place and language,
It's always understood.

And hugs don't need new equipment,
Special batteries or parts -
Just open up your arms
And open up your hearts.

“He Kissed A Leper” by Dick Innes

“Paper Clip Hugs”

No one will never know how far her message has spread, nor how many lives have been touched by a simple yellow paper clip.

QUOTE #2

Diana Princess of Wales 1961-1997

“The Hugging Judge” #1

Lee hugged him, gave him a heart and waved goodbye as the bus pulled out. The TV crew was speechless. Finally, the commentator said, "I have to admit, I'm very impressed."

QUOTE #3

“Caresses, expressions of one sort or another, are necessary to the life of the affections as leaves are to the life of a tree. If they are wholly restrained, love will die at the roots.”

Nathaniel Hawthorne 1804-1864, American Author

2 Corinthians 6:12-13

Philippians 1:7-8

John 15:12

“The Hugging Judge” #2

One day Lee's friend Nancy Johnston showed up on his doorstep. Nancy is a professional clown an she was wearing her clown costume, makeup and all.

"Lee, grab a bunch of your Hugger Kits and let's go out to the home for the disabled."

Lee will never forget what she said: "This is the first time in 23 years we've ever seen Leonard smile."

How simple it is to make a difference in the lives of others.

“A Father’s Touch”

Later, he unleashes his pent-up emotions. The old man holds the little boy and they weep together, finding a measure of comfort in their shared loss.

Many men have it exactly wrong. Hugging and physical affection are in no way signs of weakness. A man imparts strength through the gift of touch. Our children deeply need to feel our embrace.

Many of us were never touched by our fathers; that's why we're reluctant and restrained. But to the extent that we withhold physical affection, we withhold the strong affirmation of our love.

“Koby’s Monthly Komments”

I John 3:23

I Thessalonians 4:9

I John 3:18

“Why Your Teen Still Needs Hugs”

Gary Arthur doesn’t remember getting a lot of physical affection from his father. In fact, it wasn’t until his dad neared the end of his life that Gary even hugged him.

And be sure to end any confrontation with eye contact, a smile and a good hug.

“Christian Affection II”

Romans 12:9-21

“Little Acts of Love”

You yourselves are taught by God to love one another. 1 Thessalonians 4:9

Like refreshing rain in summer
Or the gentle breeze in spring,
Just a little gift of kindness
Joy to someone's heart can bring. —Hess

To make a big difference in life, show a little love.

Hebrews 13:1

I Peter 4:8

I Peter 1:22

I Corinthians 13:4-7

John 13:34-35

QUOTE #4

“Of all earthly music, that which reaches the farthest into heaven is the beating of a loving heart.”

Henry Ward Beecher 1813 - 1887 US abolitionist & clergyman

QUOTE #5

Some people come into our lives and quickly go.
Some stay a while and leave footprints on our hearts.
And we are never, ever the same.
~ Unknown ~

“How to Hug”

“A Poem” by Jane C. Simpson