My family is always hugging a whole lot, and I’m for hugging. I grew up here around men who weren’t afraid to touch each other. When I was a boy, older men were always touching me and patting me. I was pretty skinny and they’d squeeze my leg and say, "Boy, does your leg swell up like that every summer?" There was a great goodness and good-heartedness in that and no meanness at all.
—Wendell Berry
A LITTLE GIRL NAMED MOLLY woke up in the middle of the night scared by the flashes and noise of a thunderstorm. Her mother came in and comforted her, and then said, "Molly, you know God is with you in this storm." Molly solemnly nodded her head. Later that night as the storm continued, Molly woke up again and called for her mother. After another good hug, her mother said, "Now Molly, you know what I said before is true, that God is with you in this storm." And Molly said, "I know that, Mom, but right now I need God with skin on."
