The Power of Touch

The power of touch…

I love touch.  I love to be comforted by others with a hug, a pat on the back, or simply just a hand on my shoulder.  It shows me that everything is going to be ok and that someone loves me.  It gives me a sense of comfort and peace like no other.  That’s exactly how God designed it.  Even though touch wasn’t a big part of my life growing up, it was something that I deeply needed, and as I’ve aged I realize that it was a definite deficit in my life.  Study after study indicates that touch is vital to the proper growth and development of children.  If touch is vital in that stage of our lives, then I have no doubt that it remains the same as we grow older.

I’ve been doing some studying recently on the power of vulnerability.  Touch is definitely part of this.  Extending yourself to give a hug to someone can be a bit scary if you’re not sure how they will receive it.  Even just putting your hand on someone’s back can be a bit daunting if we’re unsure of the relationship.  Of course there are those who grew up in a family of “touchers” where doing these types of things is second nature to them, but for me, it’s never easy to extend myself in this way.

I know when someone extends themselves to me with a hug or a simple hand on my shoulder it communicates much more than words ever could.  Think about scripture.  Jesus touched others when He healed them.  He held the little children when they came to him.  The bible instructs us to pray for others and lay our hands upon them as we do so to impart the Holy Spirit…how amazing is that!  Not only is it an encouragement, there also is something spiritual that can happen as we touch others and pray for them.

What a scheme from the enemy it is for us to be afraid of something that God obviously has intended for such encouragement.   How unfortunate is it when we become afraid of this gift of God because it’s been violated at some point in our lives. 

The power of a simple touch can bring healing in a time a of pain, comfort in the time of turmoil , and peace in a time of chaos. 

So, as the old commercial used to say so clearly, reach out and touch someone!

Here is a poem that I wrote when I was in high school about the power of a hug…not too shabby for all those years ago!

A Message from the Heart

There’s something in a little hug

That brightens up your day

It makes you feel so special and

Takes all your fears away

Nothing can compare to what

A hug can bring to you

It brings the love and strength you need

To see your hard times through

A hug will let you know you’re loved

And know that someone cares

It shows you that you have someone

Who always will be there

Hugs make it so much easier

To say goodbye to friends.

A hug will always let you know

That good times never end

So if you don’t give many hugs

You really need to start

For when you give a hug you send

A message from the heart.