One of my favorite questions Oprah asks her guests on Super Soul Sunday is how they know God is real. The answers fascinate me, and they are often so very similar. One night long ago, God became very real to me. On that specific night, there were some troubling things happening in my house with my mom (she was an alcoholic), and I was scared. I locked myself in my room, curled up in bed and started to read my bible. I felt so alone and forgotten that night. Out of my innocence, I asked God for a hug. I just needed a hug to know I wasn’t alone. Instantly, I felt the biggest hug wash over me. It wasn’t a physical squeeze, but a deep and overwhelming embrace of comfort and safety from the inside. If you have had one of these moments, you know how difficult they are to describe (it almost seems silly), but this is what Christmas means to me. Jesus’ birth paved the way, so that a big and mighty God could show a little girl, scared in her bedroom, His love for her with a hug. My faith was solidified that night, because of God’s tenderness and love toward me. I still don’t understand the depths of His love for me, but it continues to change my life. It isn’t about the gifts under the tree, but for me, it’s the gift of a hug to a young girl one night long ago from a God who unconditionally loves me and calls me His child.
Merry Christmas! I hope you feel the love of Christ this Christmas season!
What a sweet example of what Christmas ~ and life ~ is is all about. I’ve had “the hug” myself during dark days and it brings home that the maker of the universe “comes near”, caring about every single one of us and every single detail. Celebrating the Good News with you of this season! Merry Christmas to you, Carly and all your readers, and happy birthday, Jesus! : )
I’m so grateful for all of your sweet comments throughout the year. What an encouragement you are to me! Merry Christmas to you, Phyllis!
Such a good answer to how you know God is real. Thank you for sharing your intimate encounter with our loving, tender Holy Father. Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family.
Thank you, Linda! Merry Christmas to you and your family.
I love this. I feel His hugs, too. 🙂 Merry Christmas, Carly!!
Awwwww, for some reason, the fact you feel his hugs too, made me teary eyed. Lots of love to you and your family. BTW, you’re house belongs in a Christmas movie scene.
This speaks so much to me. A few years ago, I was grieving so much for my father that had died years before. It was the middle of the night, and I was sobbing and I felt the same hug and peace wash over me. In that moment, I just knew that my dad was ok. It is really difficult to describe what that is like, but it is definitely real. Merry Christmas!
Your comment spoke to me! It made me cry. God is so good and tender to His children, isn’t he? Merry Christmas! Thanks for your comment.
Carly, this is so beautiful, just as you are on the inside and outside. Thank you for sharing this, and for showing us God’s love.
Merry Christmas to you!
Thank you, Ginni! It’s good to hear from you!
So beautiful, thank you for sharing this. I too had my own experience that shaped me. I was up in the middle of the night crying, many many years ago. For some reason I was sitting on the floor, laying my head on the couch. I remember feeling like my head was laying on the lap of Jesus as he was comforting me. I actually looked up fully expecting to see his face. Of course I didn’t but I’ll never forget his love and tenderness towards me in that moment of deep sadness. Thank you for sharing about your faith.
Thank you for sharing this sweet moment you had with me!