Been thinking of the power of touch lately...displayed in the life of Jesus and the importance of it in my own life...both in giving and receiving. It is instrumental in showing love and compassion to those around us whether with patients and their families or with my friends and loved ones. A pat on the back. A gentle squeezing of a hand. A hug. We all need the touch of another human being.
When the team got back from Kenya in December, I remember Steve saying that the first thing they did with each patient was to lay a hand on them and to pray with them. Many may be afraid to touch someone who is sick for fear of catching their ilness. But when someone chooses to set aside their fear, to touch them and pray for them?? Those two acts together spoke the love of Christ to those people. A simple act of laying a hand on their knee, their shoulder, to hold their hand. There is power in the human touch.
"And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed." Matthew 14:35-36
I've been reminded that it is not just the physically ill that need our touch. It is the lonely. The single. The widowed. The orphaned. The grieving. The hurting. We find it easier to speak a word of advice from our wealth of knowledge and wisdom. But sometimes words don't do a situation justice. Sometimes we must reach outside of ourselves and touch the person. Hug them. Hold them. Love them. The power of touch.
Here is a link to a blog post about touch-- Healing Touch. Its from a perspective of a single woman but I think we can all apply it to those around us, no matter their marital status because in my own experience we all need the loving touch of another human being from time to time! :)
3 comments:
So good, Kelly. I think you are right - touch is so important!
Thanks, Rachel, for taking time to read and comment! Love you!
Just got on here and read this today! So good! So true! I remember when my Dad died...it meant just as much and more when individuals would just hug us and not say anything..I could see by their physical closeness, they cared. I remember a situation where I seriously think the Lord shut my mouth,and I just held a friend's hand as they were going through a difficult spell. I think we think we have to spill out all kinds of 'words', but just closeness and a touch can be such a blessing. Kristy Schiete:)
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