Letter of hope to socially distanced people

Maria Smith
​Artist and scholar for Christ

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Dear reader, 

Have you ever just needed a hug. As if your whole day could be fixed if you were only held by someone you cared for. Or when you were a child, and you hurt yourself or felt scared, and your mother or father would rap you in a hug and make you feel safe and warm. I think often we forget how nice a simple form of human contact can really make us feel. That is until we can't have it anymore. 

We, as humans, need to be in contact with other humans.  Even the Lord God said, "It is not good for man to be alone." As babies, we need to be held, or we will die. And we continue to need a connection with people through our lives. You may have never thought about how even the smallest form of physical touch from someone means till you can't have it anymore. 

As we are going through this pandemic, we are forced to be separated from friends and family. No longer was it wise to greet others with a handshake or a hug. When you haven't seen a dear friend in a long time, even if you saw each other, you still had to stay distant. This longing to show someone you care for them with a small sign of affection is something I think we don't really think about until the ability to do so is taken away. 

When thinking of a lost loved one, some of us may think about how it felt to be touched by them. How it felt having their hand pat you on the back when you needed to be told, "good job!". Or, how it felt to hug them when you haven't seen them in a while. 

And now, we find ourselves having been asked to stay socially-distanced from those we love.  Even worse still, being separate those we were even starting to build relationships with. It becomes more apparent how much we miss these individuals when we are unable to have physical combat.

I have been longing to have physical contact with others during this time of separation and isolation. Sadly, this comes mainly at my sister's expense. I often have annoyed her with how much I touch and pick on her. As much as I love my siblings and my parents, I have found that I truly need all those individuals that I have made friends and close connections with. I guess I've always known how much I needed others. And yet this time apart from everyone has really helped me see that God places people in our lives because he knows we need them. We may not know we are in need of them, but the Lord God does. And he gives us the opportunity for us to grow closer to these people. 

With the upcoming semester about to start, I am getting rather excited to see my friends and reconnect with them. I am very grateful for all the people God has put in my life. I only pray that he continues to place people in my life to enable me to feel God's love.  I pray that when I greet someone with a hug, it is a hug that makes them feel safe and warm. 
I have been told that I am a "good hugger."   After this pandemic, we all might appreciate a friendly hug from those we love most. 

But until then, I ask you to remember that God is always holding you close to his heart. And our mother, Mary, is still ready to rap you in her mantle and bring you to her immaculate heart and through her heart to the sacred heart of Jesus. In this time apart from people here in the physical world, we can and should still long to feel God's arms wrapped around us and holding us close. And, we can find this direct connection to God in prayer.

May you always find peace and love in Christ and those who love him. 

much love,
Maria Smith