Mark 6:56 - And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or country, they laid the sick in the market places, and sought Him out that they might touch even the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched Him were made well.
For those sick, just the touch of His garment, in faith, would make them well. Can you imagine the power that came with a touch from Jesus? In life, we tend to forget the importance of touch, until you see people who have received very little contact with others in their life. Why is that the case?
Touch seems to have lost its meaning today. There are so many mixed meanings today to touch that are considered offensive or aggressive that we find people tend to keep their distance from one another. But in a marriage, a husband should observe his wife’s need for something so simple as a touch, and strive to meet that need.
A few weeks ago, I observed a senior couple in a restaurant. They were both wearing dark sunglasses while they ate so I could not see their eyes. As they sat across from each other, there was not a lot of conversation. When her plate was nearly empty, he slowly got up and this man of 80+ years placed his hand onto her hand and gave it a little pat. Then he shuffled over to the dessert section and returned with a sweet delight.
As they finished, he slowly stood and moved to her side. He placed the walker in front of her and then moved her legs into position. He touched her hands and then grabbed her wrists and began to pull. She was so frail, but with his help she soon stood upright and she grasped the handles of the walker. As he moved to her side, he bent over and gave her a little kiss on the cheek. By that time I was nearly in tears. What topped it off was when he placed his hand on hers as they slowly moved out of the restaurant. Even in their frail condition, he knew what his wife needed. It was his touch.
Have you ever watched an older couple in a mall who are holding hands? If you listen closely there are usually comments made by other people about how cute or how absurd they look.
Yet, touch is so vital for every person. Even shaking hands or a simple hug is a level of communication every person needs.
During the dating time of a relationship, it seems that you can hardly stop touching each other. Then after marriage, in the hustle-bustle of daily life and the familiarity of each other, you forget that touch should still be a part of your daily life.
Both spouses should make the effort to touch each other more EVERY day. Holding hands is not a possession issue, but just a simple bond between two people who love each other. You will be surprised how that can quickly defuse tension. Also try just a little hug or kiss on the cheek for no reason at all.
Bob Yandian, in his book, “One Flesh” talks about the needs of the husband and the wife. He says that the wife needs companionship, compassion, romance, affection, and passion. The common thread that makes each need satisfied is personal touch. But do not just do it long distance via a telephone, text message, tweet, or fax. Physical Touch that goes beyond sexual feelings.
Men need touch as well. One of the greatest things my Dad did during the last days of his life was to hold my hand and encourage us to touch him. He was never a “touchy” person to us, but found that the thing he desired most was not money or possessions, but the touch of his wife and family as he moved from his earthly home to his heavenly one.
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