Free Hugs in Sondrio, Italy

My friend Noel posted this link on Facebook this morning and I just love it.

I was sad when I first started watching the video, but as it played on it was so heartwarming to watch people's expressions change. I especially loved that these were real, genuine, open arm hugs, not those halfway stiff armed things some people give that make you feel like they are afraid to touch anyone for fear of contamination or something. These were the REAL THING!



How easy would it be to affect many people with such a simple act? You never know what a person is going through in the depths of their heart. So often people could have their whole day/life/world changed by a simple hug.


Who have YOU hugged today?

*****GASP*****

Oh my goodness! I was so shocked and honored when I read Moira's comment on my post "A Friend Indeed". I wrote the post straight from my heart, describing the pain my daughter was going through with middle school girls, and somehow she read my blog and decided it was worthy of being used as devotional materials at her school. Through my squeals of delight I read Moira's profile, and learned that not only is she an avid and talented scrapbooker, she is principal of a Christian school in AUSTRALIA!

Ok, so big woop, I had somebody like my little ditty who happens to live on the other side of the world right? Seems like a kinda neat thing, but no big deal until you know the following.....

Less than one week ago, a very wise person prophesied over my life. She spoke words of life over me, and the thing that hit me hard was that "my creativity and writing would be used to reach many souls for the Kingdom". She went on to say that this was only the beginning, and that what was about to happen in my life was going to be huge.

Moira's email kind of takes on a different air here doesn't it?

When I went through my Tres Dias weekend, our theme was "Such a Time As This". The leader of my weekend contacted me after seeing my post about this on facebook and reminded me of one of our songs that weekend, with lyrics that said "If you say go....I will go". The same friend who prophesied over me last week told me recently that I would go to the nations.

Now a new song is ringing in my head.....one we sang at our old Church:

"We speak to nations, be open
We speak to nations, fall on your knees.
We speak to nations,
The kingdom is coming near to you
We speak to you BE FREE."

In my Christian walk I am constantly reminded of the freedom I received in Christ simply by being obedient to His loving invitation and accepting Him into my heart. He has turned all of my baggage into joy, removed my pain and yes, so importantly to me is He removed all my shame. Now I can walk with my head high, facing the world, and showing His love.

So whether you are reading this is podunk Georgia or on the other side of this great world, I want to remind you that the love of God is reaching all corners of the darkness in our world. He loves YOU, and His arms are waiting to hug you and tell you what you mean to Him, and to help you get rid of all your junk that is weighting you down. So be free....and run to Him. It's just that simple. And you will never regret it.

A Friend Indeed

UPDATE: Today we had a conference at school, and my daughter was move immediately into another class. She is now with two kids she has known almost her whole life,, in a class without cliques and powerful girls. PRAISE GOD! The amazing thing is that He had it all worked out before we even asked for help. Isn't God good that way????

My daughter is a very studious, serious kid, with little interest in  what's popular or trendy....loves 80's music, thrift store shopping and wears sort of her own style of clothing that is a mix of grunge/Miley Cyrus/hippy chick. She is tall for her age, and very smart. She is not into rap music or partying or skipping school, and she loves to spend time with her family, reading, and watching Food Network which has inspired her to be a pastry chef when she is an adult. She is interested in pursuing a degree in culinary arts. She is active in our church, she helps with the little kids and is on the interpretive dance team and in youth group. Basically, she is everything a parent could ask for and then some. (I may be biased, but I am also right lol)

Lately, my daughter has had some issues with "mean girls" at school. Who knew middle school girls were so brutal???? They tease her and exclude her and say mean things about her shoes and lanyard and lunch box. (They wear uniforms, so they have to find other things to harass her about) This has been going on for a while, and over Thanksgiving break her closest friend in her class dumped her (by text message even) for not being cool enough to hang out with.

WHAT?????? How can kids be so mean? Who is raising these girls to be such snotty cliquish little brats? Why can't they all just go to school and get along and be happy? I blame hormones myself. But I also blame parents and media influences. We all know kids mimic what they see. I am willing to bet their Moms treat people the same way, forming relationships based on what the other person looks like or can do for them rather than what is real and true. And the media...oh goodness. We hear all sorts of stuff there, even from husbands and wives like Tiger and Elin and Jon and Kate. When people are publicized making fun of or trashing their spouse, what dignity can be left? And don't even get me started on Nancy Grace.....

However, my daughter has recently discovered a great friend at church. He is a really sweet kid, a couple of years older than my daughter, raised in a single parent home by a Godly mom. He asked his mom what was wrong with my daughter, what was going on, and his mom told him. He began texting her, telling her how he thought she was so cool and that the other kids didn't see what was really there in her. Then he had her begin looking up scripture verses about how she is so perfectly made, how she is unique and beautiful in God's eyes, and how she is created in God's own image.

A complete turn around is taking place. Yesterday I was fixing my hair in my bathroom, and my daughter was in her bathroom doing her daily chores. Through the wall I heard her singing. For the first time in a long time, my daughter is HAPPY.

The texting is continuing, and she is being encouraged and strengthened beyond anything I could have forseen. I am thanking God for sending my daughter a friend that we have prayed for, for the young man's obedience in what God told him to do, and for the young man's mom for raising such a wonderful son.

I am also thanking Him for unlimited text messaging......:)

LADIES! PLEASE READ!

I follow a blog called Tripping Around The Sun, written by a pastor's wife. I urge each of you to go read wheat she posted today. It was a serious eye opener to me and gave me real encouragement in an area of my life that I am lacking so pitifully in!

I mean it! GO READ IT!

Just click on this link:

Cassandra's Blog