The Lingering Hug

I met a dear friend yesterday who I hadn't seen in over a year. She was the guest speaker for the Mother's Day service at our church. After the Pastor prayed and left the stage, I thought the service was over, so I went over to her to say, "Hi!" She responded with a big smile and gave me a very long and tight hug. During that time, the Pastor went back on stage and asked the musicians and singers to come back and lead one last song. With the loud music playing, we weren't able to talk much because we couldn't hear each other. But sometimes actions speak louder than words.

In the Bible, a sinful woman learned that Jesus was eating at a certain Pharisee's house. When she found out, she took a bottle of expensive perfume and went to the house. As soon as she saw Jesus, she stood behind Him — not in front like so many pictures portray — and knelt at His feet, weeping. As Jesus' feet were getting wet from her tears, she began to wipe them with her hair. Afterwards, she kissed the feet of Jesus, and poured her expensive perfume on them.

The Pharisee was disgusted at the sight of this sinful woman touching Jesus. But Jesus was compassionate at the sight of a woman whose heart was grieved in repentance.

Here is how Jesus responsed to the Pharisee:

"Do you see this woman?

I came into your house.

You did not give Me any water for My feet,

but she wet My feet with her tears

and wiped them with her hair.

You did not give Me a kiss,

but this woman, from the time I entered,

has not stopped kissing My feet.

You did not put oil on My head,

but she has poured perfume on My feet.

Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven —

as her great love has shown.

But whoever has been forgiven little loves little."

Luke 7:44-47 (NIV)

As children of God, it is important to Him that we daily show our love to Him — by our actions more than our words.