2 for 2. 8 for 8.
A Christmas challenge.

Walking through the CVS parking lot, I looked up at the sky and thought, I haven’t heard from you in a while, God. Let me run into someone here; then I’ll know you’re with me.

I filled my shopping cart, and as I pushed it down the paper towel aisle, I heard,”Lisa.”

It was Jill from Church.

With a slanted smirk, I told her how I prayed that I would run into somebody. Then I added.,”So I heard on K-LOVE this week that you’re supposed to daily hug eight people for eight seconds to release stress and increase endorphins. Wanna do it?”

Jill obliged.

I finished my CVS shopping trip and headed over to Trader Joe’s. Throwing a smirk up at the sky, I thought. Ok, God, you’re one for one. Wanna make it two for two?

I entered Trader Joe’s, made my way to the produce section, and noticed a little old lady from church.

I mentioned to her that she looked familiar from church, and she said,” You’re the greeter, aren’t you?“

I confirmed it and then told her the stories about praying to run into someone familiar and about eight-second hugs.

I leaned into her and squeezed her tightly as I repeated,” I love you, ” eight times.

We released each other and I noticed that she was welled up with tears. She told me that she needed this today because even though she’s ninety-three years old and has family here, she still feels lonely.

I finished shopping and walked through the parking lot. Smirking at the sky, I thought, Not bad, God! Two for two.

As I write this, I recognize there are so many lonely people . This Christmas, are you willing to spare eight seconds to love like Jesus? How about finding eight people to hug everyday.
What if we all did it?