Mark 10:15-16 – I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. (NIV)

I watched the little toddler as he fell over a toy in his path, making a bruise on his leg. For a few moments, his cries touched everyone in the room. Through his tears, he spotted his mother and ran with arms outstretched into their safe and healing embrace.

A tight hug and a quick examination of the source of his pain erased his problem and stopped the tears from flowing. Minutes later, he was back playing.

How quickly a mother's touch heals a little one! Does touch lose its effectiveness as one grows older? Not necessarily. As a society, we tend to forget the healing properties of touch. We forget how much more effective our words are when we follow them with a little pat on the shoulder, a good, warm handshake, or a hug. In biblical times, parents brought their children to Christ so that He could touch and bless them. The Bible also recommends laying hands on the sick to heal them.

Healthy touching can be part of effective communication.

Opportunities for touching diminish as one ages. Lacking anyone to hug or to touch, we can close our eyes and envision ourselves in the arms of Jesus. He embraces us and says kind, healing words like "Trust me; I love you."

Matthew 23:37 – O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. (NIV)

Prayer: Lord, we all need to be touched and loved at times in our lives. Remind us to reach out appropriately to those of any age around us who need a touch and a kind encouraging word. Amen.

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