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Retired Pastor Offers Children A Unique Perspective of God’s Eternal Love: Thinking Of It as a Big Hug

The Easter season is upon us, a time when Christians celebrate God’s eternal love. In his newest children’s book, "The Easter Hug," retired pastor Gus Succop teaches the significance of Easter and God’s love. God’s love is vast and may be hard for children to conceptualize, but Succop does so flawlessly by comparing God’s love to a “hug”.

Beautifully illustrated by Annie Reigel, "The Easter Hug" shows readers the many ways in which God’s love is expressed and how it can be compared to a common way that we express love for one another—hugging. It follows siblings Anna and Charlie as they develop an age-appropriate understanding of Easter and its meaning. In Sunday school, they learn that the many things we experience everyday, like the sun or the blue sky, are exemplary of God’s love; even thunderstorms—although frightening at times—are a reminder that God is watching over us and caring for the earth. God’s divine love for the world is everywhere you look, which Anna imagines as God giving the world a big, giant hug.

In difficult days of human conflict, nationally and internationally, Succop wants to provide a resource of hope for young people. Even when the news can be upsetting, he hopes his book can convey the good news: God is with us every step of the way, and through faith, we can come to understand that God’s love is enough!

As a retired Presbyterian pastor, Succop’s experience has helped him understand that expressing weighty theological concepts such as the Resurrection without the mention of God’s love can be complex to children. “The easy assumption is that such concepts are too complex [for children to comprehend]. However, my experience is that the Resurrection and God’s love are aptly accommodated by a child’s imagination, and because of such accommodation, a child is given a buffer from despair.”

"The Easter Hug" makes God’s eternal love understandable for young audiences. It would make a wonderful resource for Sunday school and fits perfectly in an Easter basket. Most importantly though, Easter is the news that God’s love is eternal; matter of fact, God’s love is like…an Easter Hug!

"The Easter Hug" can be ordered on Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com, warrenpublishing.net, bookshop.org, and asked for wherever books are sold.

Gus Succop

About Gus Succop (Author)

Gus Succop is a retired Presbyterian pastor and the author of "Merry Thank You Christmas!," a children’s book about celebrating Christmas gratefully. With over forty years spent in parish ministry, he has served with congregations in Maryland and North Carolina. Gus enjoys retirement in Davidson, North Carolina. You can find him on Instagram @gus.succop.author.

Annie Reigel

About Annie Reigel (Illustrator)

Annie Reigel grew up in Fort Mill, South Carolina, with her parents and three older siblings. She has a bachelor’s degree in studio art from Furman University and is currently residing in Greenville while she pursues a master’s degree in strategic design.