Physical Touch (by Kimberly Fulgham)

Read today’s Inspiration from Kimberly Fulgham:

“And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them” (Mark 10:16)

Before you get all excited, I assure you that this is not about intimacy with your husband.  This is about a love language.

Tonight after Ava, my 7 year old daughter, and I finished her quiet time, she asked if I would lie down with her for a while.  Now my first thought was it is a school night, I am tired, and I just want to go read before I fall asleep.  I said, “Ava, I am really tired and just want to lie in my bed.”  Ava looked at me and said, “I just want to hug you for a while, while we lie down.”  I know; be still my heart.

For those of you who do not know this third bundle of joy, she hugs everyone!! I mean everyone!! I can remember one time when we were up north somewhere and a lady asked me where something was.  Well, Ava just assumed I must know the lady and ran up and gave her a big leg hug.  This woman was not amused that Ava intruded on her personal space.  After we left Ava was incredible inquisitive as to why the woman didn’t hug her back.  Let’s just say we had a discussion about personal space.  

So back to my original story! I lay down with Ava and she wrapped her arms around me.  Oh if I could just bottle this moment up!!  I realize that Ava’s love language is physical touch.  She loves on everyone.  From the minute we pull up at the church until the minute we leave, she is finding someone to hug.  She wants physical touch all the time.  If there is a misunderstanding between her and her siblings, well you better believe she will not let one of them leave without a hug!  It truly is how she whispers “I love you.”

As I was lying there, I was also reminded that this bundle of God’s blessings almost didn’t make the Fulgham family.  There was a time before Ava’s birth when I was living in a tangled web of sin.  Just understand that through forgiveness by grace Ava is here to bless so many people around her!!

This is how Ava lets those in our home and around us know that she loves and is loved.  I challenge you now to be more aware this week of the love language of those in your home.  Pay attention to the small nudges from your children and your husband.  God loves us so much and wants us to extend that same love to the people he chose to be our family.

Blessings,

Kimberly

To read more from Kimberly, go to her website https://www.authenticwomen.org/