By Jessie

We all speak a few different languages and we learn new ones as we meet more people, go to more places. However, there is something that we called love language that we failed to pick up even as we grow older. Love language is a way to communicate love and every individual has their primary love language that would make them feel that they are loved by the people around them. I would like to encourage you to read the book by Gary Chapman, “Five Love Languages for Singles” to get a complete understanding of the love language. Now, here is my story.

I came from a traditional Chinese family where physical touch and words of affirmation has never existed as a form to show love and concern. I believe most of you can identify with my background. Yes, I can almost see you nodding your head now. But there is one thing that you might want to know, that you can turn the situation around by taking initiatives as an adult rather than waiting for your parents to make that change. Doesn’t all these seems easier said than done? Let me tell you what happened to me that changed my life in a way I would never imagine.

I started the expression of love towards my mother 4 years ago, by giving her a bear hug every time I leave my hometown. Our relationship started to improve and we become closer. After a few times, I began to see that my siblings started to do the same towards my mother when they are going away. However, I have not been able to give the same hug to my dad and I have been praying to God to give me the courage to hug my dad. Each time I tend to give myself excuses to avoid hugging him. He was either not at home, in his room, in sweat or fierce looking. I just couldn’t walk to him and say “Pa..can I hug you?” and so I thought maybe one day God will be able to do miracle and I can really hug him.

God still create miracles. My parents sent me to church on one Sunday together with my brother as they were to travel back to our hometown after that. I hugged my mother as usual and I told myself that I will hug my dad the next time. Suddenly, I saw my brother walking towards my mother and then towards my dad and hugged him. I decided to follow after my brother and gave my dad a hug too. It was that simple. God used my brother to initiate the hug, something that I have wanted to do for years. I was thankful to God because I know that He prepared the setting for me to do something that I wanted to do for years. I was filled with joy because my dad hugged me in return.

All these years, I was fearful and I constantly gave myself excuses because I was afraid that he might reject me. But how would a father rejects his children? My dad may not know how to express his love to his children but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t love me. Just as our Heavenly Father would not reject us and He is always willing to extend His hands to embrace us when we needed Him. We just need to come to Him. Psalm 46:1 said “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.”

Coming Soon.