(Published in Standard, 1987)

     "God tells us He loves us through other people," Glaphre said softly. I punched rewind to hear the taped message again. "Ask God to show you He loves you," she challenged. I did. I didn't know what to expect. My life had been torn by grief over my mother's sudden death followed shortly by the death of my infant niece. I was trying to rebuild my faith that God truly did love me and would somehow take the pain away.

     Slowly, through my circle of friends, God did reach out in love. My life began to have more moments of joy and happiness as time and love began healing the pain. I had almost forgotten my prayer for Him to show me His love. God had not.

     Two years later, I was enjoying the excitement of my first writers conference until I scanned the room and suddenly saw my mother smiling back at me. Confused for a moment, I dropped my gaze. I knew it couldn't be her. My heart pounded as I dared to look again.

     The woman was talking with the people around her, smiling my mother's smile, crinkling my mother's eyes as she laughed. This was the mother I remembered before health problems had complicated her life. I gulped back the emotion I felt welling in my throat and blinked away tears. Why, Lord? I was finally putting all that pain behind. Why cross my path with this lady?

     The third day of the conference I decided that I had to somehow deal with this incredible resemblance. Maybe this woman was related somehow. Stranger things have happened. I excused myself from the group I was standing with and crossed the room to my "mother".

     "Excuse me," I said trying to keep a calm voice. "I have to ask you something. You look so much like my mother that I wondered if you could possibly be related to a family named Pope or Hancock."

     "No," she said smiling pleasantly. "I don't believe I am. But I think that at least deserves a hug." Before I could protest, she embraced me.

     With every bit of strength within me, I managed to hold back the tears and thank her.

     As I walked away, I realized why God had put this lady in my path.  My mother's stroke had not allowed for that last hug. He was still telling me He loved me.

     God's hugs still keep me secure in His loving care.

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