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| He who has the touch |
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Going to Bob Evans with my 8-year old son for dinner the other evening, there was a moment of awkward silence as we drove. When no words came to me, I did what came naturally. I reached over and tickled him! After recovering his composure from the tickling, he looked up at me and beamed a smile of glee—he felt loved.
Touch, and in particular parents touching their children, is a very powerful way to convey love and acceptance. Never doubt the power of hugs, caressing and stroking of arms, neck, hair, playful pokes, tickling, or even wrestling. Touching makes a person feel wanted, a basic human need.
Jesus our Savior certainly knew this. How many times did he heal with a touch? If scripture is an indication, the answer is most of the time.
He touched the hand of Peter’s mother in law, and the fever left her (Matt 8:14-15).
He took the dead girl by the hand, and she got up (Matt 9:25).
He touched the eyes of two blind men, and their sight was restored (Matt 9:29).
He reached out his hand and touched the man with leprosy, and immediately the leprosy left him (Luke 5:13).
He even touched the coffin of a widow’s dead son, who immediately sat up and began to talk (Luke 7:14).
And just so these aren’t seen as exceptional cases...
4:40 When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.
Indeed, Jesus couldn’t keep his hands off people! And furthermore, his touch was always gentle and compassionate. Not once is there a recorded instance of Jesus hitting, kicking, shoving, or otherwise physically abusing someone to whom he ministered. Turns out the Creator of human life was also the greatest respecter of it’s dignity.
(Side thought: “healers” who treat violently or disrespectfully those who come to them for healing may actually reveal the true source of their supernatural healing power, he who despises humanity with rage and fury…)
Gentle touch (the right kind) is a powerful way to express love, affection, compassion, empathy, and respect. We parents, and especially us dads, must never withhold touch from our children! We must put our hands on them every chance we get, so as to eliminate one of the greatest issues a child can face—“am I loved?” Which eventually can turn into “am I lovable?” Jesus certainly thought so!!!
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Denise |
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June 19, 2008 at 10:18am |
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| AMEN! |
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Cheryl |
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June 19, 2008 at 10:24am |
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| Amen! This touched me! |
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| True true, but I still believe, though unconventional, Smith Wigglesworth was empowered by the Holy Ghost...remember; the baby he kicked across the room was already dead...and then came back to life! lol |
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Amen, my son who is Autistic likes the gentle touch and sometimes a tickle or two lol
and even my youngest who is also spec.needs likes a hug and he too likes to hug :) |
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Thanks guys! Cher, pun intended, right? :-) Lara, I am not familiar w/Wigglesworth. He kicked a baby across a room??? |
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| Cathy, that's a beautiful example. Hope you and your husband never stop touching them!!! |
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| No way, we love them too much :) (the youngest one likes race n chase lol ) |
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| The Power of Touch...Awesome!!! Thanks! Mike this really touched my heart. |
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| Thanks guys! Hey, I feel really strongly about this....can U tell? |
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LindaZ |
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June 19, 2008 at 10:57am |
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| So sweet. I want a hug now :) |
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I like this! I'm a hugger and a toucher. I have people in church ( the elderly) that wait on me every Sun. for their hugs! And if they don't get them, I hear it, LOLOL
On Father's Day, there is one particular man, that I've adopted as my daddy. He was waiting for me...I told him I needed a "Daddy" hug and we hugged then looked at each other with tears. None of his kids were there with him and my daddy is in Heaven. I had always hugged him, but when dad died, I told him that I need those hugs as much as he does......his face lit up :)
With granddaughter, we have to do "group" hugs....it's her thing with Poppa, Ga and her....then she'll say "Now, group kisses!" |
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TOUCH ! One of the five "love languages" spoken of in Gary Chapmans book. Mike, if you didn't read it, you could have written it !! |
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Cheryl |
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June 19, 2008 at 11:21am |
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| :) |
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Tom |
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June 19, 2008 at 11:28am |
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Thanks Mike, excellent reminders, and examples.
Just as the disciples prayed "that they might receive"... a lot of healing touches are done in a manner that the individual might receive it in, rather than doing it in a manner that might offend, or cause doubt, or in some other way hinder, or keep the individual from being able to receive, which a lot of times are social practices, or what they may have heard from someone,(true or false).
As an example, if I were sick, and while praying to Jesus who has already had the sicknesses of the world laid on Him, I saw a place,a person, who called me up to the front of the place, for prayer for my specific sickness, that would be a gift of faith, that I will be healed. When I get there, and I see the guy I saw while praying more faith arises, then he calls out my sickness, and more faith arises, but then he sends me to the back of the place, instead of the front, doubts come flooding in to try to steal my faith ! It was not done as I saw it, now I may not be able to receive it.
I sat in a class on Gifts of Healings with a Lutheran Pastor who had Gifts of Healings as a ministry calling. He said he would come very very close to laying hands on a person, but to not want to be confused with those who may push on the person being prayed for, would not imply a push to anyone. God honed that and still healed through his almost touch.
I have witnessed those who went to the other extreme and push the people back so they would fall, or stumble to keep balance. Not good, unless people expect that is how God heals and will recieve it that way, as long as they get their healing touch from The Lord. That's what's important.
I have also witnessed people who are so yielded to The Lord that as the Power of The Holy Ghost begins to flow, they slump to the floor without assistance, and without hurt, as The Lord ministers to them, and they get up not the same as they went down.
Possibly, and I may not be correct in all instances of examples, but any view of harshness, or abusiveness may be directed toward the spirit of infirmity, and not the individual, but could easily be misinterpreted. I don't know of what you are referring to, so I may be incorrect for your instance, you may have hit the nail right on the head and discerned that they are not of God.
The gentle. LOVING, healing touch of the Master is precious, to say the least. |
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Thanx Paul! I read the 5 LL's long ago, so my recollections are few. Though I recall admiring Chapment very much!
Cindy and Linda, for you:
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| Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww........ and I have to agree Paul, this is like the 5 Languages of Love......hubby and I both have the same languages......touch and affirmation, LOLOL |
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Mike,
It really affected me!
After I read it God showed me why He touches me so.
He is my Father.
The only thing I grew up knowing was a fist or a sick kind of love.
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Tom, interesting comment, thank you! I appreciate your time in sharing this. It sounds like much of what you describe is a reluctance to touch based on consideration for others (don't want to offend). It's interesting, and important to note, that Jesus didn't need to touch in order to heal. He demonstrated this on multiple occasions.
Also, Jesus healed numerous people with demon possession and other infirmities, and not once was he documented to have physically abused even one of them. Nor were any of the apostles, who healed by the same Spirit that Jesus did, documented to have physically abused anyone. I believe this is an important factor in our spiritual discernment. Jesus and the apostles employed touch, a universally accepted and valued means of delivering compassion and care. Seems like a God-given model to me. |
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| Wow Ruth, that's harsh, I'm sorry. Jesus definitely demonstrated the Father's love....so powerfully. How I wish all fathers would convey love to their children this way...... |
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Mike, You hit this one on the head. The power of a simple touch, says, I love you, I care, I feel you, we're connected... I could go on and on. Many children today go without ever receiving a loving touch and desperately needing one. Also, adults need it too. I love when Pastor Ken comes home and without asking, I just rub his head, or he gently brushes a kiss on the back of my neck.... it's the greatest stress reliever. Pastor Aminata |
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| They talk about the "power of suggestion" well I love the "power of the touch" Good blog mike. |
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Thanks Mike;
Many times when Christ touched the ill, or dead it flew in the face of the Dogma of the day. I.E. when a jew of the day touched the leporus, or the dead they were to become unclean. |
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Sorry- wasn't finished. Scott called - light bulb moment- wrote a blog
Ok, so what I wanted to write at the end of that...
It is so awesome to hear your love for your kids.
AND everyones comments. Honest to God pure Godly love for their children.
I was in tears. |
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| Amen!!! Amen!!! and AMEN!! |
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Dave, that is an excellent, excellent point! Jesus was focused on their humanity, while everyone else focused on their uncleanness. Don't we ALWAYS focus on people's uncleanness, and miss the human underneath?? Great comment Dave, there's a blog or two in that!
Ruth, children are precious!! JUST like we are...to the FATHER. Thank you dear sister.
Thanks Cheryl, Keith, and Pastor A! |
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| Hey --speaking of children. I'm doing storytime with the kids at VBS this week, all by myself! Prayers for a Spirit-filled time of learning would be appreciated! |
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Glenn |
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June 19, 2008 at 12:41pm |
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Amen! Mike you have hit the nail on the head. We humans are made to give and receive touches. Having known very little of it as a child, I do struggle with it now, but God is good and gives us grace to move beyond our own short comings. Thanks for the reminder to reach out and touch someone, especially our family.
peace |
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| I am blessed with a husband that already had this down as far as our children go. They have no idea what its like to grow up with a distant or hurtful father. Cudos to my Rodg and bless you Mike ...you sound like one of those kinds of dads too. :0) |
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Mike: beautiful words conveying the compassion of Christ... The Touch That Affirms. (Where is that devotional I've been insisting you should write??) ;-)
Great, Mike... God is love; touch, words, deeds, atmosphere, forgiveness, ETC could ALL convey His great love. Touch to some is the MAIN way to give and feel love... touch to others is offensive because they've been hurt or abused. Either way, you have written beautifully (with perfect scriptures) that the Master's touch is not only Godly but necessary for our children to KNOW (and be fully convinced) that they are loved.
The healing from His touch... and we feel loved and we KNOW He cares and meets our needs. That healing is in our hands... touching, loving, tickling our children is healing whether we know it or not... and they feel loved, cared for and they KNOW that there is nothing we wouldn't do for them.
Every blog you write is like a waterfall that keeps on flowing... another and another and another and each one has an exceptional quality of its own, a never ending gush of GOD's great love. Such a Godly example for a man to write, speak, and know the Truth of God's Word, thank you, Mike. (Your side thought is CORRECT and pertinent to confirm your thoughts here.)
1,000 stars... Deut. 1:11. Blessings to you and your family today and always... Minister Melanie
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| Very good blog and great reminder. Remember the gentle tug He gave when you welcoomed Him into your heart? |
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| Amen!!! Your Blog and friendship have really touched me!!! |
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| Mike, yes, the baby was already dead, and he felt that he was to kick it across the room and it came back to life. He did a lot of that punching stuff, however after he had kidney stones, he became gentler with ppl. Likely the Lord's loving chastening, perhaps. Smith had love... |
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Kathy |
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June 19, 2008 at 1:45pm |
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Important message, Mike. Touch is so important for all of us, but especially between parent and child. A touch on the shoulder, a pat on the back, holding them on our lap, caressing their hair, gentle hugs . . .
An obvious side note: Not everyone wants our touch. When I was in seminary, working in the campus post office, there was a guy who would come by everyday, announcing that everybody needed 7 meaningful touches daily, and he was here to give me one of mine. After two "icky" feeling hugs, I quickly learned to avoid him. Touch should be a product of pure love and care, not a mission. :) |
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Kathy - indeed, when kids are growing up, their parents are like God to them, as every want and need comes to kids from their parents. Parents are the basic source of human love to a child! It is critical that kids be told by parents that they are loved, and therefore lovable! And THANKS for the side note, very important to add. Thanks Doyle, love you too! Larry, that's a noteworthy observation! Robin, I am happy for you and your kids! Melanie....don't know how I do it, but I seem to unlock the most beautiful words from you! Glenn....sometimes it is a struggle to get such knowledge from our head to our hearts....and to our hands! I pray you find success to the utmost! |
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| Will pray about VBS... you will be blessed more than they |
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| Touch is almost non existant in our society anymore. We are warned to be careful about hugging our children in our Church youth group, and our kids come from such fractured home environments that there is little, or no, love shown in the homes. |
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JayKTX |
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June 19, 2008 at 7:13pm |
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Very insightful ... and true. Very true! Love Calvin and Hobbes! |
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| Ugh, Shirley. Sad but true. So many people carry themselves in a guarded fashion, afraid to show even a little affection. As a supervisor at work, I don't DARE touch anyone there! Ah, but at home w/the wife and kids, away go the restrictions against caring!! |
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hellloooo ritey!! hey, share a story if the Lord leads you!
Hi Janell... Thanks!! |
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Sugz |
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June 20, 2008 at 12:13am |
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Okay, I'm going to be the different one and say I hate to be touched...I cringe when people touch me usually...I have my people that I will hug occasionally, but not too often...If you get a touch from me, then remember it, because they are few and far between...
With that being said, I love to just tickle, hug on, "wrastle", smother with kisses, and just hold my kids...they are the exception...One touch from me changes their moods...One touch from the Father changes Lives....Mike thanks I love this word... |
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I am such a toucher of others--and I love being touched in good wholesome ways...hugs, hands--a touch to the shoulder when you're sad, or in need of a little compassion.
I have a friend that transmits an immense amount of love with the slightest of touch--that's a gift that has been bought with a price. That slight touch heals and nurtures many--and it's just the touch of a finger or the palm, but the transmission feels like an eletrical charge. Love is an amazing force, and it becomes even more amazing by degrees. I think the key to the 'touch of Christ' is directly related to the degree of love that he operates in, which is also available to us.
Your sidenote speaks volumes Mike. Awesome, awesome blog! |
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| Hey MissSuga, no probs there. Our kids are always a "safe" touch, aren't they?? Young and innocent, nothing yucky at all in their touches. Grown-ups on the other hand could have many different motivations for touching, not all good. And of course, if you'd rec'd bad touches, been hurt by people, or seldom/never touched as a kid, I can understand not wanting to be touched-- the defenses are up by default. But given that God designed us to be touched (well, didn't he?), I wonder if this isn't something God wants to help us overcome? He's sure helped me tremendously the last few years get over hating to be touched and being distant with people. |
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| Birdie, thanks for sharing about your friend. That really IS a gift they have received from God, a true gift of healing! |
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Ed |
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June 20, 2008 at 9:51am |
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Mike, you've done it again. When I became a Christian I did not look forward to people hugging me or touching me. My family were not huggers or touchers. You leave me alone and I'll leave you alone was the norm. Thinking back, maybe that's why we were not a very close family; pretty normal as military families go, but none-the-less not close.
After a bit of Christian maturing, I realized what you are saying about the power of touch. I never studied the "cause and effect" of touching, but Jesus' example is enough for me! Although I'm more comfortable with hugging and touching now, I'm still sensitive to the feelings of others. Most of the time I will only hug if I know the person wouldn't mind or if I get a "signal" that it's okay. I could tell you a story or two about single women who took my embrace the wrong way!!! |
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| haha, thanks Ed! Yes, sometimes we do have to be careful about who we hug! Every now and then I have hugged non-huggers. In fact just recently, as we were saying our farewells after small group, I started to go in for a hug from one of our female participants (after hugging her husband, who was standing next to her). I started to get the feeling as I approached that she might not reciprocate (ooh, awkward!), but unfortunately that "instinct" wasn't strong enough to stop me! lol.. I went in anyway, and got a very halfhearted hug in return. But I do learn! And in the future I will just have to settle for a handshake from this person. Christ has changed me, in time I believe he can change anyone! |
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Sugz |
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June 20, 2008 at 12:26pm |
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| Ah Mr. Mike...Indeed He has designed us to touch, and yes you are probably right (as usual-hehehe) in saying that this is something God wants to help us overcome...my children are a safe touch, and they have been the ones to help me lighten up the little bit that I have...Maybe there will come a day when I will be able to just throw my arms around anyone...we'll see...thanks and God is Good... |
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Deb |
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June 20, 2008 at 1:51pm |
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| Great blog as usual Mike! |
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In the words of the Great Theologian Rick Springfield "We All Need the Human Touch" LOL...
There are so many ways to communicate.....touching is one of them. I learned in the book 5 Languages of Love that touch is a love language. I make sure I pass along as many touches as I can to my wife and kids througout the day. |
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| Todd, you are a husband and father to be admired and emulated, bro! |
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| awsome. nothing beats a hug from someone you love! |
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Sue |
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June 26, 2008 at 11:33am |
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| Hey bro! |
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