"The Power Of Touch"

"And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country.  People brought all their sick to Him and begged Him to let the sick just touch the edge of His cloak, and all who touched Him were healed" (Matthew 14:35,36).

About twenty years ago Brooksyne and I became foster parents to overseas children who had life threatening illnesses.  They came to the U.S. for medical treatment after preapproval from a U.S. hospital and team of doctors who agreed to care for them.  Ester was our fourth child from Guatemala and was also available for adoption – she came to us at 3 months of age, went through many heart operations and has been a great blessing to us since that time.

About 18 years ago we went to Guatemala and visited the orphanage in Guatemala City where Ester spent her first three months.  Babies, a number of them sick and abandoned by their birth mothers, lay in the orphanage day after day.  Several were covered with scabies and needed major medical attention.  We went from crib to crib and sought to stimulate each baby by speaking to them and holding them in our arms.

We also visited the Rio Dulce where the children from the same orphanage were housed who were beyond diaper age.  About 50 orphans lived in very simple dormitories and were schooled there in the small village.  They were very excited about our arrival and followed us everywhere.  They called me "Papa" and fought over who would sit on my lap.  Brooksyne volunteered to give some badly needed haircuts.  With her hairdressing background it was a simple way she could be of use during our visit.  After a long search a pair of dull everyday scissors was confiscated and Brooksyne began the challenge of cutting the children's hair. 

The haircutting line was long and it seemed the more she cut, the line continued to grow.  Eventually she realized that the line kept growing because the children, after they got their haircuts, would go back and line up for another trim.  They simply loved the individual attention and the human touch of a caring person.  Though we couldn't speak their Spanish they craved the universal language of love.

Unlike the leper who feels nothing due to nerve damage we are warmed by the touch of another.  Unlike our other four senses (sight, taste, hearing, and smell) which are located in specific parts of the body, our sense of touch is found all over our body. Amazingly, there are over 3,000 touch receptors in each of our fingertips.

Jesus invited the disciples to physically touch his hands and feet to feel the piercings from his crucifixion for further proof of His bodily resurrection.  It wasn't enough just to see, they needed to feel the evidence as well (Luke 24:39).

When Jesus went about healing the sick and performing great miracles, news about Him quickly spread throughout the region.    People traveled great distances and brought their sick with them.  They knew that huge crowds would gather and it would likely be impossible to have a one on one audience with this Miracle Worker.  But they also knew that healing virtue flowed out from Him and just touching the edge of His cloak could restore them to wholeness. In fact all who touched Him were healed.

I wonder what message we send to others by our touch?  I like it when another person extends his or her hand toward me for a firm handshake.  I enjoy it when my wife sitting in the passenger side of the car reaches over and laces her fingers through mine.  I'm genuinely warmed by the hug of another brother who is expressing his brotherly affection for me. 

Today, will you join with Brooksyne and me in extending your hand to the oppressed, to the unloved, to those in need.  Be intentional in seeking out that person in church who comes alone and is often overlooked by others.  Shake his or her hand and make eye contact – more than just a dutiful or passing glance.  Communicate to God's creation that they are special to Him and special to you.  Why not ask if you can sit next to them?

How about the homeless person or the mentally challenged? Those repulsed by the world are to be embraced by the godly. Our nursing homes are filled with people who long for a warm hug or a loving handshake.  Giving a hand massage is a wonderful way to warm the heart while engaging the spirit of one who is lonely and just needs to know someone is genuinely interested in them.  Will you be that person?



Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily Prayer: Father, help me to be Your hand extended to those in need.  We so often complain about our own needs but in reality much of our own needs are met as we reach out to others in need.  Your Scripture declares, "Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed."  Help us not to put off that which You lay upon our hearts.  May our gentle and loving touch be the finger of God reaching down from heaven to earth.  We were created in Your image and we desire to portray Your loving character as well.  Amen.

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Marvin Culajay was our second child from Guatemala who came to live with us as he underwent two operations.  He is now grown with a family of his own and reconnected with us about a year ago after finding us through the daily encouragement.  He occasionally calls us and receives our messages daily in Guatemala.

Brooksyne's Note: When I volunteered to cut the children's hair it didn't cross my mind that these children might be covered with head lice.  I had no experience with such a parasite and it took several haircuts before I realized what I was seeing especially behind the ears.  I breathed a sigh of relief when we left several days later and there wasn't a sign of lice in my hair….. until a week after I was back home in the U.S.  Kathy, a dear friend in our church, came over and pulled them out one by one, doused me in head lice shampoo, and cut my hair eliminating even more head lice.  It was a small price to pay for helping these precious children. I experienced a temporary discomfort of what they experienced daily.

Today's Suggested Music

and Supplemental Resources

*Not her real name

We dealt with some interesting traffic yesterday as one driver was bringing home her groceries in her pickup truck.