Sunday Writing... 2-2-20... "TOUCH"

Good morning!

In today's writing, "TOUCH," we explore many different ways we use our hands and lives to touch others.  May you find new ways every day!

Blessings,
Jan

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Today's Devotional: 

"TOUCH"

by

Jan Andersen

Working as a physical therapist for over 37 years, I have had the opportunity to touch a lot of people’s lives, both literally and figuratively!  My hands are a big part of my “toolbox” for my trade.  When I evaluate patients, I often have to palpate different structures to help determine the source of their pain or problem.  Then as I treat them over the next appointments, I use my hands sometimes to help stabilize them as they walk, or guide them as they exercise, and sometimes knead their soft tissues into submission. Ha!  

When I was working in a small city with a heavy hispanic population, some of my clients would tell me that I had “angel hands.”  At first I wasn’t sure how to take that.  Did they mean soft and light like a feather?  Gentle? Loving?  I asked and they had difficulty explaining what they meant, but finally we came to rest on it meaning warm and healing.  They felt I had healing energy in my hands.  It was a combination of the touch of my hands with the connection they felt with me, that I understood them and their condition and wanted the very best for them.

We can all touch others in our lives.  If we know someone who is ill or mourning, we can pray for them.  If a friend has a need, we can offer to help.  When a child scrapes a knee, we can hold them as they cry and then gently wash their knee and wipe away their tears.  Our touch shows that we care.  This is how we should deal with everyone with whom we have contact throughout our day.  Whether we touch them physically or emotionally, it should be with the love of God in our hearts and actions.  

Jesus touched many people as he healed them.  Even those who touched him or his clothes were able to access his healing power.  He continues to touch lives today with his love and forgiveness - his touch is life-changing!  We are to be extensions of his hands as we do good for those around us in his name, showing them love, compassion, empathy, and joy.  It is part of God’s plan for each of us to touch others’ lives.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  

Obviously, physical or emotional touch can also be evil such as bullying, brutality, abuse, killing - these things are of Satan, not of God.  But when our hearts are touched by God, He will give us the desire to touch others in godly ways.  It is a deeply personal touch, to our very core.  Even when we reject the feeling of his touch, or stray from God, He is there to pull us back again and again.  No matter how awful or evil we might think we have been, or how frequently we fall back into old habits and hang-ups of our sinfulness, He freely offers us his loving and merciful forgiveness.  Touch our hearts, oh God!

Dear Lord in heaven, who touched us from the very beginning in our mother’s wombs as you knit us together, touch us deeply again and again, that we may be your hands to touch the whole world!  In Jesus’ name,  Amen.     

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Song:

REIGN IN US

Starfield

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Prayers are lifted up daily for you by the Devotional Writers and the Monthly Writing Staff of Women's Focus Ministries

Blog writers:

Sandy Billingham, Karen Bennett,

Brother Thomas Ukwute, Jody Ward,

Bre Miller, Lynda Kinnard, Amie Spruiell,

Debbie Rodriguez, Carol Steficek,

Jan Andersen and Corinne Mustafa