THE POWER OF A LOVING TOUCH.

Elly was a divorcee who became a christian when she acknowledged her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. However, while she found life difficult, she felt the comfort of the Lord in her aloneness. While peace replaced anxiety and fears, she also had her longings to be loved.

I had not seen Elly for a long time, but when she came to live nearby, I visited her.

Before I sat down in her cosy kitchen, I put my arm around her shoulders, hugged and kissed her, at which she burst into tears.

‘No one has touched me for two years,’ she sobbed, as I held her hand until she calmed, and wiped away her tears. We talked to make up for lost time, and together we read from my pocket Bible from psalm 23- ‘the Lord is my Shepherd.’

Medical research shows that orphaned babies respond to cuddling, and touching, preferably by the same person, either family, nurse or friend. A Journal of our children’s Hospital tells of better care of children in hospital when new-born babies are cuddled and stroked for the impact of warm skin against skin. And when a baby or child cries from fright or pain, either father of mother stroke gently or simply pat the chid to restore calm, and dispel fear. The bonding affection gives security to the baby or small child.

The heart-rending stories which came from nurses ministering among the Romanian orphans ( and other places ) told of children from babies to teenagers deprived of human love and affection. How fearful they appeared as we saw them on television, until they began to trust those who loved and cared for them. What a change. Smiles, grins, hands held, and a willingness to hold another child’s hand to play ‘Ring a ring of roses ‘ or ‘Here we go round the mulberry bush’ ( or its equivalent in Romanian.)

How gracious of the Lord Jesus to touch the ailing mother-in-law of Peter, and heal her. That is all we read of her in Scripture, but it must have been so important to be included by Dr Luke.

It was the Lord Jesus who took the children in His arms and blessed them. The mothers brought their children to Him, knowing the power of His loving touch upon the little ones.

Both Matthew and Mark record that when a leper came to Jesus he had compassion on and touched him. The leper, who was regarded untouchable by the people, lived outside the city. He was expected to call the shameful and degrading cry, ’Unclean, unclean’ so that all heard him, and shunned him. What an incredible surprise, and how amazing for the people to see that clean, sinless Saviour dare to touch a leper. Deep hope welled within the leper’s heart as Jesus reached out, and touched as no other person dared.

‘He touched me. He loves me. He healed me.’ And the former unloved leper spread the good news that Jesus touched and healed him.

In Java my husband supervised a small company of lepers. Although several were healed with the (then ) medicine sulfone, their families and village community were loth for them to return, even to live on the outskirts of the village. They were so excited at anything done for them, so we bought colourful materials which we made into blouses, and shirts for the men. They listened to Gospel records, and read simple christian books; but oh, how they responded to the touch of one who loved God, and came in the Name of the Lord Jesus.

We are not all called to reach out to lepers, but someone needs a loving touch. That child prone to misbehaviour, after discipline, needs the loving touch or hug of reassurance. The rebellious teenager needs the assuring arm across his or her shoulder, accompanied by ’I love you.’ Recently this was suggested to a friend whose son was extremely restless and often unreasonable, proving successful. The father rang to say, ‘My son and I had a wonderful talk together, and we resolved many difficulties.’

The one whose moods swing high and low will respond to a loving touch. To the friend who gets tense at the smallest upset offer a loving touch. For boys who get to the stage where they withdraw from a kiss, give them a pat on the arm, a hug, often on tiptoe for a very tall grandson.

The bereaved friend is not always comforted by words or verses, but often an arm across the shoulder, and a simple ‘I feel for you’, shows how you identify with her sorrow.

If you are not used to touching, reach out and see how God helps you to show your love to someone. We have the Lord Jesus as our example.