A Loving Touch Can Make A Difference

Last week I was in a store looking at books {no surprise there!}  Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a middle aged woman artfully wearing a hunter-green baseball cap, covering a head that I’m sure was once adorned with hair, but now was smooth and hair free. 

I’m not sure who began the conversation, but as we talked, I discovered she was in the final stages of chemotherapy, treating a rare blood cancer... the same rare cancer her mother died from at just her age. I shared with her about a friend of mine who is also undergoing chemo for cancer, and has received strength, comfort, and an amazing peace from God in the midst of it all...  She nodded and said she too was a believer.

We stood and boasted on the Lord for a few more minutes and then I asked her if I could give her a hug {not something I usually do with strangers}.  She looked a little surprised, but shook her head yes.  And then without hesitation, she fell into my outstretched arms and held on with a fierce grip.  I felt her tremble and then listened and listened as she, through quiet tears, poured out her soul-deep hurts. 

Oh, how my heart ached for this woman with a port in her shoulder, a port in her abdomen and no hair on her head.  This woman who was afraid and lonely and heartbroken.  This woman who knows Jesus, but like me, {and probably you} has times of doubt and fear and sadness.  This woman who hadn’t been hugged in a very long time.

After a heart-to-Jesus prayer, and encouraging words, we eventually went our separate ways.  Neither one of us ever picked up a book... That wasn’t really the reason we were there that day.  

As I walked away, all I could think of was how powerful a simple touch can be.  It was a hug that opened the door to this woman’s heart.  Jesus knew the power of touch; He used it often.  He was always touching people... flesh on flesh. 

He didn’t have to touch the skin-dripping leper, the crusted eyes of the blind man, the fevered hand of Simon's mother-in-law.  He could easily have healed with or without a word, but He chose to touch the unclean, the smelly, the blistered, the contagious, the ugly, the sinful. 

He could have looked into a crowd, and pronounced them all healed, but He chose to go one by one, touching and allowing each one to feel His presence, His warmth, His care, His concern, His love. 

A simple touch can convey... 

acceptance, comfort, love, compassion and so much more.

A hand on the back, a light touch on the arm, 

a hand on the shoulder, a hug.

A simple touch can say...

I’m here. I care. I love you. I know you can do it!

You're going to be OK. You’re alive. You matter.

Jesus touched them. 

 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. 

Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

Matthew 20:34 NIV

“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified.

But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.”

Matthew 17:5-7 NIV

But Jesus took hold of the boy’s hand and helped him to stand up.

Mark 9:27 EXB

Now Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. They told Jesus

about her right away.  So he went to her bedside, took her by the hand, and

helped her sit up. Then the fever left her, and she prepared a meal for them.

Mark 1:30-31 NLT 

When was the last time a girlfriend touched your arm or gave you a hug?

Physically, how did it feel?

What emotions did it evoke?

Leave a comment!

 

I realize that not everyone is comfortable being touched or touching...  And that's perfectly alright!  

Please be sensitive to a person's preferences.  

 And if you don't know the person, please ask permission before hugging!:) 

Living in His grace,

  Mary  

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