“Give me some sugah” is a southern colloquialism I learned during my 32 years of living in the Georgia. Yes, it’s a “southern thang” and that is not a typo on “sugah” or “thang” because that is how “born and raised” southerners pronounce them.
I’m sure you are not surprised that I remember this particular southern phrase (there are MANY MORE!), given my penchant for sugar. What “sugah” in this phrase really means is “give me some love.” So, love is equated with sugar or sweetness. Nice. I knew my cravings for sugar had a purpose! I’m just addicted to love!!
We, as a society, are craving “love.” It’s in our DNA. We want to be noticed. We want to know we have significance, that we matter. We want someone to care about us. Our souls cry out for some “sugah.”
It’s interesting to me that our body requires “real” sugar, or glucose, to function properly. Without it, we cannot survive. Our brain and red blood cells can only function on the energy from glucose. We will die without it.
My daughter, Kristen, has Type 1 diabetes. She is totally dependent on an insulin pump, or insulin shots, because her body does not produce the insulin needed to process the glucose she takes in. And she cannot survive without the energy from the processed glucose.
Just like our body will die without glucose, our souls will die without love, or “sugah.”
Gives new meaning to the song “What the World Needs Now Is Love, Sweet Love.” Love nourishes our soul like nothing else can. Our dear friends Matt and Katrina, are currently showering three beautiful children, who they fostered then adopted, with the love they never received. Their “new” kids crave love like I sometimes crave “sugah.” We need more people like Matt and Katrina.
I have another friend, Jan, who served as a CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocate, for foster children. Her job was to regularly meet with her assigned foster children, love on them and assess whether it was in their best interest to reunite with their biological parents. She gave them lots of “sugah!”
And my own daughter, Kristen, worked as a child psychologist when they lived in Nashville. Some of her patients were foster children and some were children dealing with trauma or psychological stress. Through her therapy sessions, she listened as they “played” and evaluated their needs and determined appropriate treatment. Her form of “sugah” brought healing to children starved for love.
I could name so many others who on a daily basis are giving “sugah” to those who need it most.
- Like my new neighbors in Columbia, TN, who bring me sweet treats because they know I’m being treated for breast cancer.
- Or my friends, Lon and Sue, who serve the homeless every Wednesday.
- And the many people giving of their time, talents and resources to help hurricane victims have the basic necessities of life and recover from tremendous loss!
They inspire me to be generous with my love! God has given me plenty of “sugah” to share:-).
We all have a sphere of influence. You may not feel you can make any significant difference, but if you can sprinkle a little “sugah” into your daily interactions and love on the people you come in contact with every day, God will multiply it and use it to nourish a soul.
Love is what we are craving as a society and the real “sugah” is only found through the love of our Creator God. If we have accepted and received His love for us, then we are commanded to share that love with others.
Love God. Love others. It’s that simple.
So go give someone a “little bit of sugah” today! Their life depends on it!!
Dear Heavenly Father,
Help me to love others the way you love me, unconditionally and with so much mercy and grace. May I see others the way you see them and “sugah” them with pure, unselfish love.
Your daughter, Karen
Soul Care 