Staying In Touch—literally

Staying In Touch—Literally

Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. . . . Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed.

Mark 1:41-42

Timmy was very afraid of lightning and thunder. His mom and dad would say, “Now, Timmy, don’t be afraid. God is right here in the room with you.” He would agree, but then as Mommy and Daddy went into their room, the lightning clapped, and the thunder rolled, and Timmy screamed bloody murder. Timmy’s daddy and mommy went back into his room: “Honey, we thought we told you, you don’t need to be afraid. God is right here in the room with you.”

“I know God is right here in the room with me,” Timmy responded, “but I need someone with skin on.”^a

It’s easy to identify with this kid. We all want someone with skin on, and that’s one of the great blessings of going to bed as a married couple. The holding, cuddling, and spooning we enjoy as husband and wife is wonderful. You know the feeling of holding each other tight under the covers during a rainstorm and the comfort of warming each other’s bodies as you climb into bed on a crisp autumn evening. You know the feeling of a gentle caress after a tough day or holding hands across the bed as you fall asleep on a summer’s eve. Sometimes just the touch of a toe (even if it’s cold) is all it takes to be assured of your partner’s presence. Gentle, warm, magnificent touch is glorious.

It can happen at any point throughout the night. At 3:00 a.m., when the world is silent and you’re awake contemplating how you parent your child. Or you’re pondering the fate of your investments in the stock market. Or you’re thinking about your career. Or the future of the country. Or your relationship with God. A few thoughts along these lines can sometimes be enough to banish sleep for hours. But just when your fretting reaches a crescendo, you reach over to your spouse and place your hand on his arm or around her tummy. That’s when the world stops spinning out of control. Your heart slows. You drift off to sleep.

Touch. Glorious touch. Scientists have found that touch between a husband and wife can reduce tension, elevate mood, enhance self-esteem, and even strengthen the immune system. Granted, not all touch in marriage is welcome. At certain moments, and for certain people, it can be seen as a demand or even a rebuff. But much of the time, touching between couples can actually be more emotionally potent than the sex act itself.

To us family means putting your arms around each other and being there.

—Barbara Bush

^a 147