Can I Hug You?
My birthday was a blast.
I received 280+ text messages and almost 600 e-mails—not counting greetings from Facebook, Multiply, Friendster, etc… On the day itself, I received phone calls from Canada, Australia, Singapore…
And yesterday, at our Sunday prayer gathering (which we call the FEAST), I probably received a thousand hugs! If we had more time, I would have loved to embrace every single person there.
It felt so good to be loved! And so good to love.
And wherever you are right now, let me give you my “spiritual” hug too.
Because the embrace is so important to my life.
Let me tell you why…
My Morning Prayer
Every morning, I tell God to embrace me.
I’d close my eyes, stretch my arms, smile a big smile, and say in Tagalog, “Yakap naman, Lord.” And I just stay there in that tight, warm, lingering embrace for awhile. Believe me, it makes my day.
The embrace is my basic form of prayer. I love it so much, I even wrote a tiny prayer book entitled, Embraced.
How did I learn to do this?
Blood Inside The Brain
Fourteen years ago, at 75 years old, my father was fixing a light bulb in our garage. He stood onto a chair for greater reach. He lost his balance and went crashing down. His head hit the concrete floor and blood spurted out like water from an open faucet.
Because of the impact, there was like a dripping faucet inside his brain as well. He had blood clots in his brain and he began to experience paralysis in his body. The gravest blow was severe pneumonia, an infection that developed after a few months of staying in the hospital. His lungs were now filled with fluid, and that was when the crisis hit.
My Last Embrace
On that fateful night, the doctor called us up, telling us to rush to the ICU because he could go anytime.
When I entered the room, I saw Dad hooked up to a respirator. At that point, he was only absorbing 20% of the oxygen they were pumping to him. Someone doesn’t last too long in that state.
I looked at Dad’s hands and face, and they were bluish in color. I whispered to his ear, “I love you, Dad. If you see Jesus anywhere, just go with Him. It’s okay.”
That was when the miracle happened. He opened his eyes.
Then he did something that he had not done in the past 25 years. He raised his hands towards my face, and clasped me on both cheeks. Then he brought me down towards him, and gave me a hug.
My father gave me a hug.
My father was not the hugging type. He probably hugged me when I was a kid, some twenty plus years ago. But he never hugged me as an adult.
A volcano of emotions erupted within me.
At one moment, I was happy he was hugging me.
At the next moment, I was sad, knowing it may be his last embrace.
And at the next second, I was angry. I wanted to ask, “Dad, why only now? Why didn’t you embrace me when you were stronger?” But truthfully, I was also angry at myself. I asked myself, “Why didn’t I hug him before?”
After awhile, his arms collapsed on his side.
The Great Miracle
I took one step backward as the doctors and nurses attended to him.
After fifteen minutes, the doctor faced me and gave me a surprise. He said, “Bo, you can go home now. Your father is out of critical danger. He’s better now.”
When I visited him the next day, Dad was even better. And he got better and better and better.
This was the great miracle in our lives. Dad was able to walk out of that hospital. And he lived for another 12 years!
But guess what we were doing during those 12 years?
You bet. We were hugging each other everyday.
Sometimes, we’d meet in a mall. We wouldn’t care if there were thousands of people walking by us. We’d still hug each other.
Being hugged by my father—and feeling so loved by him—gave me an idea of how much my Heavenly Father wanted to embrace me.
Thus, it became my morning prayer—to get embraced by God.
Alas, many people don’t feel that embrace.
Let me now ask you a question.
A very big question.
Are You Afraid To Die?
Most people are.
Sometimes, people are afraid to die because they’re leaving behind unfinished businesses in their world. Like kids. Or dreams. Or projects.
But that’s just half of the story.
Most of the time, people are afraid to die because they have unfinished business in their inner world. I’m talking about stuff in their life that they know is wrong. Stuff called sin.
Sins are excess baggage that weighs down our souls.
It steals away our joy.
It robs us of our peace.
When you know you have but a few days to live, spontaneously, you want to get rid of sin in your life.
First, you want to be forgiven.
Second, you don’t want to sin anymore.
When you know you’ve washed your soul, then you’re ready to die.
You’re not afraid of death.
I don’t speak from a book.
I share from experience…
I’ve Stood Beside A Lot Of Deathbeds
For the past 30 years of ministry, I’ve stood beside many deathbeds. Many times, I’ve prayed over people who were in the last moments of life.
When it comes to death, I’ve realized that there are only two kinds of people: Those who are afraid to die. And those who are not afraid to die.
All classifications disappear. Rich. Poor. Educated. Not educated. When it comes to death, they’re all the same. They’re either afraid or not afraid to die.
I’ve noticed that when a person’s heart is filled with love, he isn’t afraid to die. But a person whose heart lacks love has great fear of death.
I’ve noticed that many of them, as children, weren’t loved. Or they experienced traumas early in life, making them fearful people.
I’ve realized that behind all our minor fears is really The One Great Fear: The Fear of Death. If you fear rejection, you actually fear social death. If you fear heights, or sickness, or anything else in this world, you actually fear the loss of self—which is another word for death.
Here’s what the Bible says: Perfect love casts out all fear.
I’ve noticed that people whose hearts are filled with God’s love aren’t afraid to die. They know death will bring them more of God and more of love.
The Biggest Question
A few weeks ago, I prayed over a woman on her deathbed.
As I put my hand over her arm, in a very weak voice, she asked me, “Brother Bo, where am I going when I die?”
It’s a question that dying people ask. Except for atheists who don’t believe in souls, everyone nearing death asks the question.
But that’s precisely my message: We’re all a dying people. Some today, some in 10 years, some in 50 years. We just don’t know when. But it doesn’t matter. We’re all going to die.
So the question asked by that woman is important for us all: Where am I going when I die?
I answered her question with another question, “Why don’t we pray that God bring you to Heaven?”
I held her hand and asked her to repeat after me. I let her ask for forgiveness from God for all her sins. I made her invite Jesus into enter her heart. Though it was difficult for her to speak, she repeated my prayer.
And I inserted my favorite prayer: “Lord, embrace me!”
When we finished, she had a smile on her face.
She was ready.
A few days later, she breathed her last.
She continued the Eternal Embrace that she began on earth.
My friend, always be ready.
Embrace God now.
May your dreams come true,
Bo Sanchez
PS. Do you already receive this weekly email, Soulfood? Just in case you’re just receiving this because a friend forwards it to you, you can subscribe yourself at www.BoSanchez.ph Just put your name and email address, and you’ll receive it without fail every Monday. If you do, I also give you a free Ebook, entitled, How To Know If Your Dreams Are God’s Dreams.
PS2. Remember my Webinar with Trace Trajano last week? He gave excellent and powerful strategies of how to make money through Real Estate even during the financial crisis. I was inspired by the guy. Just in case you missed it, here’s the link. Just sign up and you can listen to the recording of that inspiring terrific Webinar. http://gotspitmakemoneyrealestate.blogspot.com/
PS2. Earn money through the Internet. My internet guru Jomar Hilario’s Truly Rich Internet Marketing Workshops are always fully-booked. But thankfully, he’s giving another one this July 31 to August 1 here in Metro Manila. If you’re thinking of earning through a blog, a website, or selling your products online, don’t miss this. Click here for details.
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Hi sir..
It is nice to know that you enjoyed your birthday. you deserve it.
You mentioned about death in your blog. You know what? I was kind of depressed these past weeks that I actually thought I wanted to die. I have never thought about it really before, but then I found myself thinking how it would feel like leaving everything behind. I wondered how it is on the other side..
but then i thought of my parents and my siblings. somehow i know they depend on me, i cant bear to let them down. no matter what, i couldn’t bear to think the pain it would bring especially to my parents if i’m gone. i guess, that’s what scares me more right now when i think of death. i cannot leave my loved ones behind..
right now, i would like to ask for your prayers. please pray for me…for more strength and to keep my faith more than ever. thank you.
happy beerday kuya BO
i can relate to thumbelina’s comment, i too am depressed this past few days, bo’s blogs and talks really inspires me not too worry too much and to keep God by our side.
bro. bo your right when you said that most people who fear death do not feel loved, but i also noticed people who are undergoing depression wanted to die because they feel that no one loves them they forgot that God is with them. that is why its important to have faith in those trying times.
thanks bro bo, belated happy birthday….
happy birthday bo! may god grant you continued good health, and a loving family. thanks for sharing your stories..thank you for being a blessing to others.
Belated Happy Birthday Brother Bo!
I also imagine hugging God especially when I feel down.. and I feel better every time. ü
Your posts never fails to brighten up my Mondays.. It’s one of the things I look forward to every week.
=)
Another nice blog. Made me cry when you foretold the incident at the hospital with your father when he embraced you. :((
And yes, we really are a dying people..
yes you may Bo, we welcome your spiritual hug, yes you may.
HI brother Bo,
I cried here infront of my PC when you told the story about your father. My parents and I are not really into mushy stuff, you know, we dont say I love you to each other unless it’s an email or a text message. I kiss my mom and dad only when I arrive to or go out of the house. And I envy those whom since childhood have been sweet to their parents. I would want to do that too, and you inspire me to. So thank you again.
Please pray for me because I have this great decision making to do when it comes to my career. I just need some prayers for me to make the right one without any regrets.
Happy birthday again, I greeted you on your last blog. I dont know you have friendster and multiply, is that for real? If so, I would want to be one of your contacts.. hahaha.. God Bless!
Bro. Bo,
Thanks for inspiring us once again. Yes, maybe aside from hugging our loved ones, we should also hug our Lord God often.
More power to you and to your ministries..
Hi Bo,
I forgot to say “thank you” to you when I gave you a big hug yesterday during the Feast. I was at the first session. The session was so strong that I cannot control my tears particularly during the part when you sang “I Will Be Here”. I really felt the overwhelming love of God. I really felt His embrace during the entire song.
Thank you for yesterday’s session. It really made me rest in God’s love particularly now that I am experiencing a crisis in my life. Thank you for being God’s instrument to assure us of His great love and faithfulness in us no matter who we are, what we are and where we are in our life.
Thank you for your faithfulness in your mission as God’s messenger.
Happy Birthday again . . . .
yeah, i feels great to be loved. Happy Birthday Bo. Even if its late, advance or whatever, everyday will always be your day as you inspire more people out there. more people who will always be reading your post and writings like me. Since I started reading your books, it became as addiction to me. I feel blessed as you leave that spiritual embrace on us.. Thank you and lets all pray that all our dreams may come true..
Belated Happy Birthday Bro. Bo, Thank you for inspiring us with your stories and lessons. You always brighten my day whenever I read your blogs or just recalling it within my mind. Thank you for showing us on how to embrace our eternal Father in heaven.
hi bo,
a lof of memorable firsts happened to me yesterday…first time i joined the Feast (session1)..first time i saw you in flesh and heard your moving talk and beautiful voice…first time i saw your adorable wife in flesh…i hugged you twice , that was when all first timers were called in to come forward for your blessings..
truly my first-time experience left a delightful and moving imprint in my heart..felt God’s loving embrace…
who wouldn’t come back again for the FEAST?
thank you Bo…keep on being YOU…
Hi Bo, my heart is still crying for a lose of a friend. Actually his my husband’s friend, a kumpare, a confidant, a person whom I know will not leave my husband. He was killed last Saturday. I’m sorry, I know its your birthday but a lot of things happened that day. A this is one of the trajic story. He was killed during a police operation. He was a good person, a straight policeofficer. Why does good people die early. What hurts is that he was not given the chance to defend himself. I feel the lost of my husbands friend. I know it hurts most to his family, his wife and 3 children.
Bo, please pray for all of us. That he may have justice and that we may have peace within us.
thank you andGod bless!
hi Brother Bo,
thanks really for the wonderful story of life and death! truly such remind us were we heading to…
A belated hapi birthdey! and today is my sisters’ bday at toronto..
thanks for the inspiring messages and posts
….happy birthday Bo! Praying that you will continue to be showered with blessings, loving family, good friends and laughter.
Your messages never fail to touch me or give me food for thought.
More power to you and looking forward to more of your inspirational stories.
Happy Birthday Bro!
Hi Brother Bo!
You really inspire me a lot.. In times when am so low, you’re inspiring words just comes on time. Maybe I need to strecth my arms wider to feel God’s embrace through others…
God bless!
A prayerful birthday to you..
Jeng
Bro. Bo,
thanks for the spiritual embrace!
you are truly one in a million.
pls include me whenever you embrace our Lord.
salamat sa iyong pagmamahal!
pagpalain na nawa ng Maykapal.
a tear rolled down my cheeks as i read your blog. I am a papa’s girl and I have been abundantly showered with his hugs. now that i am far away from home making a living for my family i miss them so much it breaks my heart. how i wish i could hug my son, may parents, my siblings my husband as often as i wanted to. . . .embrace me papa GOD!!!
Happy bro bo… Here’s my BIG EMBRACE…
Happy BIRTHDAY bro bo… Here’s my BIG EMBRACE…
Dear Brother Bo,
You have inspired many people of your ministries. You have awaken the souls of many seeking for truth and guidance. I am one of them. A million thanks to you.
Many more birthdays to come.
GOD BLESS!
Hello Bro. Bo,
Mwuaahhhh!!!
Thanks for the hug Bro. Bo.
It’s true.
Some are ready to die.
Some are not.
And on my part I beg God, that if my time comes and death is near I hope that I might be able to repent of the sins that I commit- KNOWINGLY or UNKNOWINGLY.
That He may take away all my fears and live in His abounding, infinite LOVE.
Hi Bro. Bo,
Im an OFW here id Dubai and my sister told e about your website which im eager to be a member.
Since i started to received your e-mail yesterday about the Goods Dream, and read this Soulfoo dmail, i feel so relieved about my finacial problems.
Thanks for all the prayers and blessings that Jesus gave us.
The word YAKAP NAMAN LORD is so touching.
Thank you for keeping us near to God.
I’ve been crying all day..and this made me cry too…Thank you for always reminding me that all will be well! And thank you for the embrace, just what I need right now.
Happy birthday Bo,
Thanks alot for all the spiritual support all tis years. I hope we can meet in person in the future. I have been lving in Finland for 18 years now and a charismatic catholic before leaving the Phil. You continued the firE
e in my heart with your internet services. May the Lord keep you strong and healthy to reach more diasporas like me. God bless and I really wish to meet you or attend your services in person when I visit the Phi. I will pray for that, will u pray for it too.
Arlene from Finland
bro bo! huli man daw ang lahat naihahabol din…tama ba? hehehe happy birthday bro! god bless u & ur family too!
jonas&shientar
Wishing you a very happy Birthday Dear Bo,
May God bless you and your family always. You are an angel who is touching many souls. I am spending most of my time in a day reading your articles, magzines. Need to go a longway with Kerygma…………
God bless you all….
hi brother bo! Belated happy birthday.. Thanks for being you no one in this world could ever stand up and say the things you say. Especially in this country where people are not emotionally, spiritually and financially open.. Through these years you have been a blessing for me and for a thousand others as well. Thats why you are so blessed because you always put your heart in with your talks that we feel loved by you as well. I grew up without a father so I dont really know how it is like to have one, and now i understood that it kind of became a hindrance to how I saw God, before deep inside I didnt know him and he doesnt know me.. So why would he care? But you gave me a different picture of who god is.. And for that I want to give my thanks and hug. Godbless you brother bo!
This blog truly inspires us to be more loving.
And to express that love through a genuine embrace.
Salamat sa YAKAP ng Diyos sa pamamagitan mo Bro. Bo.
Lando & Mel
Hi Bro. Bo,
Im so happy to hear that you enjoyed your birthday. Feel blessed coz you are indeed a blessing to a lot of people, including me.
Your story about your dad is so touching. Who wouldnt want a hug anyway? I remember how im such a hug-aholic (and still is); I used to ask my best friend for a hug whenever im happy or feeling down and true enough, it never failed to give my spirit a much needed lift. Thats what I call “power hug”. : )
A hug or embrace never failed to make me feel loved and special. The warmth from it is so addictive that you keep on coming back for more. May we all be blessed with an embrace that will make us feel that we are never alone in this world. Knowing someone cares really makes a difference.
And yes Bo, i could use a hug right now. : ) Thanks! Oh btw, i have that prayer book (Embraced), and i bought several of that before and gave out to my closest friends. Its really a nice book, and i just wanted to pass it on to my friends so they too, will experience the blessing that it gave me.
Again, Happy Birthday Bo! God bless you and your family.
take care!
Every Feast Day in Valle Verde is a special one..But yesterday was indeed the best ever!
Tears flowed freely from everyone…Love overflowed all over the place.. strangers hugged each other; friends exchanged tight hugs; families embraced one another & exchanged ‘i love you’s’!
Everyone felt God’s love & warm hug through you, Bo!
Thank you Bo for a great & memorable Feast Day!
God Bless you more!
Bro. Bo,
Belated Happy Birthday! I feel that God is embracing me while I’m reading your blog. You are really an angel of God that the people on earth can hug and be hugged by. I will be hugging my family from now on more frequently…Thanks Bro. Bo. God continues to bless you and your family..
you make me cry Bo…
while reading ur article today i shed tears becoz i was not with my father in his last grave when he passed away last 2000. Im in Dubai working while he pass away that time. I cant go home that time becoz i lost my job and my employer doesnt allowed me to go home becoz he is thinking that im not coming back to Dubai since I have an outstanding personal loan. however, when i knew i cant attend his last funeral, i pray and ask God that I want to be with my father even in dreams so that i could kiss and hug him before he will go totally to God.
my prayers was granted and that night itself, i dream with my father, me and him meeting each other, laughing, talking so many things and he never angry with me even i was not enable to attend his funeral. we just hug and kiss to each other, then suddenly, i woke up and tears in my eyes becoz i could still feel the hug and kiss of my father..
thank you for sharing this topic.. its really nice and enlighten and inspriring us in our daily lives..
im always looking forward with ur email.
God bless and regards to ur family…
love and prayer
emily
Belated Happy Birthday Bro. Bo!
While I was reading your article this morning, I remembered that I had a headache when I woke up this morning and then my 1 year old woke up before I left the house and she gave me a tight, sleepy hug. I kissed her goodbye and then drove to the office without realizing the headache is gone (which is not usually the case, believe me). I realized just now, it was God’s way of embracing me today! What a great way of starting my work week.
Thanks for all your inspiring articles. May God always inspire you to write more.
God bless you and your family!
dear bro. bo,
i know that many have greeted you in this special day. I believed that the celebrant should be the one recieving birthday pressents… but is so nice of you to give us a priceless gift on your special day…the gift of enlightment.. thank you for opening our eyes to all the things that we missed, for reminding us our shortcoming, for letting us see the other side thru your inspiring stories. We cannot thank you enough.. I wish that God will give you long life so that you can continue to inspire and touch other peoples live…. May our God continue to blessed you more and more and also your family… More power…
Of course Bo!! I love being hugged..n i could use a hug rite now! ^_^
Thanks for all the blessings u’ve shared.. U always succed makes my tears go down..Ur words really bless me..
I’m a med. student and i’m longing for a retreat..its almost 3 years since my last retreat..but i’ve no chance..since, in my country, a retreat needs at least 3 days off n i’m doing my internship now, so i have no chance to attend that kind of retreat..n it’ll last for more 2 years.. =((( but i found U! Ur word is a “retreat” 4 me..I love reading Ur articles n watching U preach in the internet..it helps me survive!
Thank u Bo..Thank U for always bring God to me..
And oh i almost forgot….HAPPY BIRTHDAAAY!! ^_^
May GOD bless U n Ur fam abundantly..so that more people could know the goodness of our GOD through Ur works n fams.
Big Hugs for U, Marowee, Bene n Francis! ^_^
God bless..
Hi Bro!
I can related with you when it comes to your dad. My dad is not the type who is outwardly affectionate. In fact, he seems kinda distant emotionally most of the time. I just pray that one day we’ll be able to hug each other too - a son to his father and a father to his son.
Belated Happy Birthday Bo! Many more to come.
belated happy birthday again bro bo….
thanks for the last prayer meeting at the FEAST…
this was the best i have ever attended…
thanks again…
more birthdays to come.. BEST IS YET TO COME…
dear BO.. this article makes me cry, coz it reminds me of our grandmother whom we really love..
i thank you for sharing wonderful articles to us.. specially this one..
again thank you and Belated happy birthday!
GOD BLESS you..
hi bro. bo!
belated happy birthday.
It’s my birthday today bro Bo.
Thanks for your wonderful sharings.
Kap
Dear Bro.Bo,
Yes you can hug me! Thank you!
I can handle hugs really well.
I’m addicted to hugs esp. hugs from my little angels.
Thank you for the hugs and love.
I will imitate your style of prayer in the morning.
I will ask a hug from the Lord just like the morning hugs i ask from my hubby.
I also long for my father’s embrace. He worked abroad when i was young now I’m working abroad and he’s retired. Hugs were not part of his expression of love.
I hope I can hug my mom and dad more often.
Good morning hugs and good night hugs!!!
Wow!!! that must feel soooo good!!!!
Thank you again for sharing yourself to us and to the whole world. Thank you for sharing HOW you love the Lord and HOW He loves you back…. You are a tangible, breathing evidence how good, how faithful and how real God is.
I Love YOU! God Loves you more!!!!!
My hugs to Sis Marowe, Bene & Francis & to your reliable team of angels.
Again, belated Happy Birthday!!!!
Thanks for the hug and the prayer, that is simple but lovely. I’ll use that.
When I saw the bit about your father, I remember what happened to my own father when I suddenly hugged him after attending a funeral of my former supervisor (his father died). He was surprised that I did that because I always shout at him and I have issues with him (and I still do). Plus we’re not the mushy type.
Instead of hugging my parents, I end up hugging my brother whenever we part ways. But it was because I haven’t seen him for the past 10 years. When he returned the first time, we hugged one another so tightly and when he left we hugged again that I ended up riding his back. Imagine that a 29 year old woman trying to climb on her brother’s back who is 13 years older then she was.
Looking at this I felt guilty. I want to fix my problems with my father but anger is stronger. I know he is a good man but there are some things that make me so mad.
And about deathbeds, I had two of my aunts die, one I was able to be on her deathbed, the second I wasn’t there. Seeing my aunt die made me think on how I want to die since she passed away peacefully.
belated happy birthday bro.Bo!
its my first time to post a comment , but just wanted to say..THank u! for all the inspiring articles..
May GOD give u long life so you can share more of your talents to others.
GOD BLESS YOU and ur Family!
Happy Birthday Bro. Bo,
What an inspiring message you shared to us again……. It always make our day complete, & feel the presence of God’s love, a Big Hug.
May our loving Lord Jesus continue to bless & protect you & Hug you.
bong
Hi Bro. bo!
Belated happy birthday!
Thank you for the hug and a wonderful sharings!
More power and Gob Bless!
Hi Bro Bo,
Belated happy birthday to you! mAY the Good Lord continously shower you abundant blessings, love and happiness.
Since the day i’ve joined the Kerygma Family, u’ve always be an inspiration to me. You dont have any idea how you’ve changed me … all those hatred and anger that i felt for the past years towards other people who’ve hurt me in many ways, now, its all gone..
If we’ve met earlier, maybe i could embrace my father before he died. I do have many regrets because now i dont have any chance to show my father how much i love him… too late …and this made me realized that i should love my husband, sons and families every single day.
Truly,you were such a blessing to all of us… May u continue to feed us with ur inspirational talks and blogs so that we may live and continue to love until the end.
You have said:
I don’t speak from a book.
I share from experience…
1 Corinthians 2:13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Be careful
1 Corinthians 2:5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
But you are right with the question, “Dad, why only now? Why didn’t you embrace me when you were stronger?”
Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten.
Ecclesiastes 9:6 Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In anything done under the sun.
Hey Bo!
Glad to hear your birthday was a blast!
Thank you for inspiring lots of people and especially inspiring me.
Will be waiting more for your writings
Take care and God bless.
hi Bro Bo,
belated happy birthday!!
Thank you for another inspiring blog. Im starting to be hooked in reading your blogs as it made me realize a lot of things for the past weeks. Honestly I no longer attends church masses and sermons for a year I guess. When I saw your website via net it caught my interest and attention. I have a lot of personal load for the past months and your blogs have helped me realize the value of life and how its good to feel loved.
May you continue to write these inspiring blogs that will inspire other people.
God Bless.
:)
Thank you so much for that inspiring Blog … this could not have come in a more appropriate time. You see, my mother-in-law is dying from Cancer. She’s in a Nursing home right now because the Hospital can no longer care for her. It’s just a matter of time … her cancer had spread throughout her stomach so she can no longer eat. She says that she doesn’t want to suffer anymore but at the same time she fears death. We’re all praying for her and a Priest had already given her the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. Pls. keep her in your prayers … her name is Andrea Gaufo. Thank you and God Bless.
Hi Bo, thanks for the message. I’m so touched with it I really felt God’s embrace and I also realized that He’s always there.
Thank you thank you Bro Bo.
You’re a blessing!
thanks for sharing bro.BO..
God is really great that He always embrace us..
may i used my strength to embrace all the people I love and all the people that need it.. before its too late..
hi bro. bo,
happy belated birthday to you! May our Lord God continue to bless you and inspired people.
ingat po.
joy
hug me bo, i am really afraid to die
happy birthday Bo. thank you for sharing your life to us … for being a wonderful inspiration to a lot of people hungry to hear about God. May He bless you with so many more years so you can touch more lives, too.
happy birthday Bro. Bo! Thank you for being a blessing to us! May God continue to pour and shower you with so much blesings….You deserve all the Best!
Bro. Bo thanks for the hug! I needed that! May you continue with your mission in making others live more meaningfully…You’re such an inspiration!
God bless!
from an unknown author…
“A hug delights and warms and charms,
that must be why God gave us arms.”
Point well taken Bro. I hug my three teen age sons every time I meet them. I know they feel kind of weird ( knowing male teen agers at that). But I know too that they appreciate it.
Happy Birthday again Bo and wishing for more birthdays for you.
Hi Kuya Bo.
Bleated Happy Birthday to you! God Bless you always and more power.
I am really inspired of you writtings… Thanks a lot.
Barny
hi bro bo, thank you for sharing your story to us yes its true that there is warmth and comfort when somebody gives a hug
i will also ask the Lord to hug me too everyday
God bless u always
Hi Bo!
Thank you for this inspiration. Your thoughts and teachnings make me want to be a better person, wife, mother and sister.
You made me cry just by reading this as I remember my Mom and Dad who passed away some 6 and 11 years ago respectively.
You truly are correct when you say that HUG is so powerful that it can erase all your problems away. Oh how i wish i can turn back the hands of time and give them my hug. I will just embrace in my heart and inmy dreams.
But what i can do now is when i go home, i will hug my children and make them feel that I love them so much!
happy bday!
Bo, belated birthday greetings to you.
I was touched by this article, and everyday I am thankful that I subscribed to Soulfood. It inspires me and keeps me going even through the toughest of times.
I did not have the same luck as you had with your Dad. My mom was in the hospital for 3 weeks, hooked to a respirator for most of that time, and breathed her last in the hospital. Nonetheless we were able to hold each other lovingly and was given ample time to show each other our love before she died.
She was a big fan of yours and your books are among her most treasured legacies to me.
I thank God for your inspiration and pray everyday that more people will be, can be like you. Thank you and God bless you and your family.
hi bo,
belated happy birthday..
Belated happy birthday bro Bo.
You always make our day inspiired and feel the presence of God’s love. Truly, you were such a blessing to all of us. May our good Lord continue to
prosper and bless you, so you can also bless and prosper more lives.
hi bro. bo, happy bday again!! thank u very for that very inspirational talks.. yesterday i feel so depressed & i dont know what to do..so i just pray to god to help me through it i feel so good after i pray.. thank u so much, you always inspire me everyday to your talk.. god bless!!
hi bro. bo… thanks your this good article again. i can relate in your story about your dad, my dad also passed away when I was 10 years old, i missed my dad, and we never had a chance to hug each other much…
Hi Bo!
This blog made me cry at nakonsensya ako.
This weekend, I feel really bad about myselft. I know that my parents got mad at me because of my moodiness. At my age I’m still hot temper and I have a hard time controlling it.
Bo, please pray for me, to be more understanding, loving and respectful to others.
Hi Sir Bo,
A Pleasant day to you and a million hugs to you for a wonderful person in you.
Thank you for enlighting us about life.
We love you
Maricar
hi,Bro. Bo hope i can hug a person even i have this hurt feelings.please help me to pray to our FATHER to be strong.thanks..
hi bro bo,
i was there at the feast last sunday and experienced the healing and love sharing that day.
Im with my bf that time ( answered prayer : ). both of us are filled with hope and love for each other. we hugged each other alot.
Hi, my big Bro. Bo!
Very inspiring naman ang mensahe mo ngaun… may natutunan na naman ako sayo at aking gagawin every morning… Sarap ng feeling ng ganun… na alam mo na God is embracing… ganon kasi ako… I kissed and embrace the people I love… pwede pala gawin un kay Jesus pagkagising sa umaga…Labyu very much, big bro… Hug and kisses to you and your family…God bless you
A very beautiful article. Thanks for reminding us to show our love and affection to our parents as often as we can. I am guilty of this one, taking the people who are very dear to me for granted.
Hope I could attend the Feast one of these days.
God bless you more!
Good morning! It’s really nice to love and be loved as well. And you’re right, an embrace from a loved one feels so good.
Hi Bo! i add you to my facebook page but i love to pray
pray to someone who needs help or everything that’s i
what i need everyday. can you send me a free copy of you prayer book called Embraced pls.
thanks and belated happy birthday Bro. Bo!
hi sir!
you really deserve a POWER HUG! sayang lang i was not around during your celebration so i could also experienced the “spiritual hug” you gave during that greatest moment in your life.
Could i please also request a copy Sir of the tiny prayer book you wrote, entitled” EMBRACED. i wanted to learn more of it. thank you so much.
More, more, more and more, power and success!
Hi Bro BO,
Thank you for sharing with us , the GOODNESS of our LORD Jesus.
Yes, I will ask GOD every morning when i wake up to hug me so i can live my life everyday with HIM.
GOD be always with you BO.
Mr. Bo,
Good Day Po!
Just wanna say Thank you so much! I am learning so much and I really love reading your articles….
YOU ARE THE BEST Sir BO!
GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS!!!
Bo,
A truly touching article.
You move people. You move them towards their inner selves, and towards God.
God bless you more….
Jane
bro bo,
happy happy birthday!
thanks so much for giving us these unending inspirations..
may the Lord hugs us all the time!
belated happy, happy birthday Bro. Bo,
Your blog is so inspiring, yes, as we grow older we tend to forget the basic form of expressing our love to the ones we love. Maybe its because of fear of rejection.
This time I will try to embrace God every morning.
I have read all your inspiring messages and even bought your book “Embraced” however, the sad fact is i have not finished reading it.
Help me pray that God will give me strength to endure trials life may bring.
Hope one of these days i will be able to attend one of your sessions because as of today I still can’t afford to go to manila coz i’m from mindanao.
Thank for sharing everything to us.
God will always be with you.
Hugs to you Bro. Bo and
God Bless You and Your family.
Bo! I love this article. I’ve been thinking about these questions for so long (like why are people afraid to die, where will I go after I die, etc.) and been formulating my own theories too. I even wrote an article about them in our college gazette. When I read your article…BINGO. They match! I never thought there are others who think the way I do. I love this article, Bo! You literally put into words my thoughts about dying. No one could have said it better. =))
Thank you so much, Bo! =))
Happy birthday Brother Bo….. Thanks so much for always inspiring us… May God bless you more…..
Hugs from me too…..
makes my day. thanks for this. Ü
bro bo,
belated happy birthday..thanks for the inspiration..
my god always bless ur famiy..
power hug to u,Bro.BO!
thanks for your spiritual hug!
truly felt!
Happy happy happy Birthday!!!
wishing you good health & more blessings for u
and ur family!
I also believe that HUG means more comfort than a kiss!
I used to hug all of my family members & friends, my way of making them feel that I’m grateful coz God gave me them!
Thanks for sharing!
Reposting this at my Multiply site, to inspire others!
God bless us all!
Bro. Bo,
Your story is very touching…. thanks!
I am always inspired whenever i read your articles.
Very sure God keeps on blessing you, so you can inspire more people.
i LOOOOOVE HUGS!!!
belated happy birthday, bro bo! hugs and more hugs to you…
i love this article…bo, i remembered there are times I asked GOd that way, childlike faith especially when I’m so down and so happy…more on so down…”Lord, yakapin Nyo naman anak ninyo…” and then i cried…
I wanted to cry while reading your sharing as it reminds me of that fateful night 24 years ago as I witnessed how my father’s breathed his last. He died of cardiac arrest at the age of 71. You see I was my fathers favorite as I am the youngest. I was then working at an international company and so I had to stay away from home except for the weekends only. The weekend before my father died I was not able to go home (and that memory always haunted me as I remember how my father waited for me infront of our house every friday evening or saturday morning). I really miss my father. Up to now when I think of him I wanted to cry.
God Bless.
lynna
Hi bro Bo!
Im glad to know that u had a great bday! U deserve it!
I love reading and rereading ur articles….it is true that hugs are poweful..hugs from loved ones…..It help us to lighten up the day.
God Bless! & more power!
bo happy brthday! thnx 4 sharing ur ideas..btw bo hopefully we can talk about financial,i read a lot of books about investng including richdad i need a capital to start a business, is it possible here in the philippines to start a business without a money or to make money without job,i cant save,i cant invest,i cant leverage,coz im jobless im agent in real estate but zero in sells,im not gud in selling actually, can u give me some advice? tnx
Belated happy Birthday Bo.
Thanks so much for the very inspiring story of your Dad.
Please pray for me to love my mother as God loves me. May I will hug her oftenly. Please also pray for her, that she will be able to realize and shows us specially to my younger sister the true meaning of love of a mother.
God Bless Bo and thanks so much for your undying and unselfish guidance to love and serve God for the rest of our lives.
Hello bro bo, Thanks again for this nice article, i am really blessed knowing the fact that my dad too is not expressive particularly on hugging somebody… parang wala sa vocabulary nya un…
it came to the point the day he died, i don\’t have a chance to hug him… I got angry at myself and asking the same question “Why didn’t I hug him before?”
Nowadays, i hug my mom and those that are closed to me - my twin sister, mga pamangkins, mga kapatid… in that way para ko na rin na-hug ang daddy ko…
I know it\’s too late pero minsan if i visited my dad\’s tomb … i telling him… \”pa-hug naman dy\” … then i will cry… grabe … i\’m still hoping one day i could hug him — in heaven.
Thanks again Bo, Godspeed
Hello Bro. Bo,
its your birthday pala. belated happy bday po sir. its my first time to leave a message here. by the way, my bday was last 10th of july. feeling ko nga close tayo whenever i read your articles. thanks for everything kuya. god bless you always.
I loved this blog Bo, i can relate because i also ask God to embrace me, especially when my world is turning upside down. It really helps, honestly after asking him to embrace me it lightens me and it helps me to think well… I’ve learned this in my elementary days, because one of our teachers advised us that when we pray we should ask God to kiss and embrace us and we should feel his presence… I agree with you Bo that it is the seed of love that gives life to us…
Bo, continue inspiring us…
Thank you and God bless…
Bro Bo
I should say THANKS A MILLION..The Feast last Sunday was a blast for all of us who were there too. And yes..it felt good embracing a stranger.and I had several lingering embraces with at least 3 ladies across the rooms who cried profusely like me. I have not been hugged by my own husband for such a long time and I was really feeling very lonely and the first time you told us to hug the person next to us - friends sibling etc…I was alone (no family member or friend was seated near me) and a young husband in front of me with a small child, after hugging his wife and kid stepped back saw me crying silently and gave me an embrace too! I was a liitle shocked for a few seconds but felt God’s love thru his kind gesture. That was an unforgettable moment..the hugs I received and gave that day will help me last for a week till the next Feast. There used to be Free Hugs signs at the lobby..sana ituloy yun kasi para meron uli mag hug sa akin…Salamat Bro Bo..Hopefully next time I will be able to hug you too. Before I went home I saw Bene at the back door and I asked him if I could hug him and he was so sweet to say, “sure”! Para na rin kita nayakap.
God bless you and your family!
Hello Sir,
Belated Happy Birthday to you. Thank you for sharing and more hugs…
Dear Kuya Bo,
Belated happy birhday to you! Please kndly pray for me. I have no work. My little shop is full of debts. I am in crisis. i dont know what to do. I am honestly serious about paying my debts but i do not have the capacity to pay for it. Dear Kuya Bo, pasensya na po, wrong timing talaga yung message ko but I am struggling to change my life.
Ace
09296831452
Hi Bro Bo,
Thanks again for this inspiring blog, I always look forward to your weekly blog,
‘YAKAP NAMAN LORD” is so relieving, thanks for sharing and keeping us closer to God.
God bless you always!
Hi Sir!
belated happy birthday! sana marami pang dumating na kaarawan saiyo.
Gusto ko mag negosyo pero hindi ko alam kung ano sisimulan ko. maliit lang budget ko, please advise me. gusto ko sana gumawa ng mga stickers and mag print ng shirts na may mga magandang messages na nakalagay pero malaki budget para sa machine (nakakita kasi ako sa internet). di ko rin alam kung bebenta ang ideas ko. Please pag payuhan po ninyo ako. I have 2 kids and sa hirap po ng buhay ngayon, kailangan po talaga ng mga pangdagdag kabuhayan. Umuupa po kami ng wife ko ng bahay. Im from Pili, Camarines Sur pero dito na po kami nakatira sa San Jose City, Nueva Ecija
happy happy birthday bo! take care…
Whew! Another inspiring story… Thank you soooooo much Bro.
Nice one Bro… belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY BO! May you continue to inspire people WITH YOUR WRITINGS… Thank You for always…
What a touching story!!! That’s awesome.
Belated Happy Birthday Bro! I’ll keep praying for you. Thanks.
Thanks 4 d hug Bro. Bo , a big hug from me too..=)
Thanks also 4 sharing another inspiring story that keeps on strengten my faith..thanks 4 making us more closer 2 God..Belated Happy bday po!! God bless =)
this blog makes me miss my daddy more, i want to embrace him, but now his in heaven, i know, because he’s the best ever for me,…
this on is very touching esp the story of your father…
tnx brother bp…
Brother Bo, Belated Happy Birthday to you.
Thanks for the hug, I really appreciate it. In return I’ll hug you too. You gave me smile today, and an inspiration to go on with my life. May God bless you.
^_^
thank bro.bo….
bro bo..
thank you for hugging me..
god hug you always…
the article is so nice,it really touches my heart…
ow, almost forgot…let me greet you a belated happy happy birthday,you trully inspire so many people by your articles…and i believe in everything you say.its really feels great to hug and be hugged.and i know God always gives us a hug..thanks!
happy birthday bro. bo sanchez
bro. bo,
thanks for this inspiring message again… i hope i can do that to my parents and my parents as well when i’ll back there… i always do hugs and kiss my 2 children (ages 23 and 17) to show that i love them but my husband is opposite of me…he’s not showy as i am…please include him in your prayer that he will also listen to your preach when i’m listening you in Preacher in Blue jeans..God bless…
Hugs! ☺
happy birthday Bo!!.. Wishing you more friends, laughter and joy.
wow!
thank you very much for the very inspiring story…GOD is realy working miracle in every minute of our life!.
Thanks & praises to Yaweeh for being a GOD sent to everyone! To GOD be the glory…
Happy birthday to you bro. bo!
millions of hugs for you bro. bo….(umwahugs)
from,
U.S.A
Dear Bro. Bo,
Praise the Lord for people like you. I’ve been praying through St. Monica for the conversions of my sons. Hope you will have time to pray for them also.
My son with his friends went to different town propers of Italy to do this “hug action” at unknown people. They had fun and disappointed at the same time because in town like Milan(the New York of Italy) they have been snubbed. It was a courageous and loving gesture anyway.
Thank you so much for your inspirations.