How special is touch to you? Does it bring you comfort when you are sad? Does a hug from a family member bring you joy? Does it depend on who is touching you? Do you consider touch part of being sociable with others? Do you consider touch to be part of healing?
Touching can bring us great joy. It can provide us comfort when needed. Generally speaking, we all need human touch. Of course, it should be the right touch at the right time. When it is, it can be healing for our soul. It can be an expression of caring and love.
Touching is far more a part of our lives than we realize. Whether it is holding hands or a caring caress, patting someone on a shoulder or a playful slug to the shoulder, a handshake or a sportsman’s hug. Touching occurs throughout our daily lives.
Touching is especially important when we seek to comfort one another. Praying with someone who is sick typically includes holding their hands. When someone is grieving, we often hug them and allow them to cry on our shoulder. It is often the touch that provides the healing we need.
Have you noticed that most of the healings Jesus performed include touch? Today’s passage is just one example of how Jesus touched someone and healed them. Jesus took Peter’s mother-in-law by the hand and her fever left her. It is the compassion of Jesus that comes through in His touch. Our compassion can also be reflected in our touch.
I pray we all express our compassion through touch. I pray we provide comfort through touch. I pray each one of us receive the healing touch of Jesus in our lives. Be compassionate. Comfort one another. Express your compassion through touch. Provide comfort with a hug. Experience the healing touch of Jesus.
Mark 1:30-31 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
Marty Pressey 