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I grew up in a small town, much like Mayberry. Our values were simple, "do unto others as you would have them do unto you." We didn't have a lot, but life was good. Good parents, good grandparents, good friends, and school was O.K. No real complaints. And this is pretty much the way I thought the whole world was.
It didn't take long to realize that I didn't have a clue. I met people so much different than I was. My dad's father was a wonderful man and well known in the community. He loved everybody and would help out anybody he ran into that needed anything. He was a hugger. He hugged everybody. I remember being in lines at the grocery store and he would see a need and pay for peoples groceries and then give them a hug. My grandmother would complain that they never would have anything because he would give it all away. She was right and he did give it all away. He died happy.
Anyway, here I am out in this big, scary world, just as naive as a person could be. I inherited the "hugger" gene from my grandfather. His were big shoes to fill. There was nobody I didn't love and hug. But I began to notice that some people didn't want to be hugged, or at least said so. Others hugged a bit too long, or too tight. I though they were just real friendly people. I did not understand anything about "agendas." In fact, did not know the word existed, much less what it meant.
A few friends pointed out to me that some of the guys that I was hugging had different agendas than I did. They tried to explain that they were beginning to see these hugs as something a bit more intimate. I told you that I was naive. So, when I first had the "homo agenda" explained to me, I was dumb founded. I actually found myself in denial that anyone could possibly think such a thing. College was a rude awakening to me. Anyway,
I began getting offers that made me uncomfortable. I did not want to hurt anybody's feelings, but something had to give. I found myself not offer hugs to guys out nearly a freely as I had my whole life. In fact, it got to the point that I could not hug my brothers, or father for a while.
Fast forward through a lot of life's lessons and many miles on the old boy. What are my thought's about hugging today? I am a born again hugger. Everybody who will receive a hug, get's a hug. We need more hugger's in the world. And even those who say they don't need a hug or want a hug really do. You just have to "earn" their trust. And why shouldn't it take a while to earn that trust, they have run into people with agendas themselves.
I am in a prayer group of men who love Jesus. I was recently telling them about a minister we know that is what people see as a real "Jesus man." He prays all the time and "wins souls to Jesus," but is not a hugger. He thinks it is "gay." He needs a hug. I told the other fellows in our group that I was going to print tee-shirts that said, "hug a homo" today. I think Jesus would, in fact I know He would. We all need a hug.
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Posted by Imhere on 2008-05-19 11:38:14 | Rating: | Views: 138
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i want a shirt that says "hug a homo"
I would sport that like a new pair of sketchers.
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Posted by PsychoLainey
on 2008-05-19 12:31:12
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Speaking from personal experience, I am so glad that you inherited that gene from your grandfather. I think hugs are so important. The shirt idea just cracks me up! I will start on the design for you. Hugs...
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Posted by mparrinello
on 2008-05-23 17:35:51
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You just let me know when you want those shirts done. I can get you a good rate! And I would proudly wear one!
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Posted by jbeaney
on 2008-05-27 15:00:49
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