What Do You Miss Most

I had the privilege of ministering to one of our widows this morning. She is a treasure. A rare jewel of a person aging alone without her spouse, but she is not a bitter lady. She is classy. She is delightful, interesting, and joyful. I promised her months ago I would come see her. Today was the day. We sat at her dining room table and visited for an  hour and a half. 

She and her husband were married for 63 years. I have not even reached the age of 63. He died in 2019. I asked her at one point what she missed about him the most. Her answer surprised me. She replied misty eyed, "I miss his touch." She lives alone. She is faithful in attendance among a group of other widows in our church. I often stop by their class on Sunday mornings to visit. Those ladies are important to me. Very important. 

As I thought about daily routines, it became apparent to me that she probably never gets physical touch from her class. I've never seen the ladies in her class hug one another. Does she ever get a hug? A pat on the back? Do people shake her hand?  Then I thought about my own life. Brenda and I usually kiss in the mornings and at night before going to sleep. We hug nearly everyday. There are others in the church who refuse to shake hands preferring hugs instead. I shake hands with multiple people during the week. Physical touch is built into rhythms of life. 

The saintly senior lady I visited today does not have that. While she did not say so, I imagine her missing holding hands with her husband. Periodically Brenda and I hold hands during the night. Something this precious lady does not get to experience. She does not enjoy the soft tender peck on the cheek or a quick kiss just to say I love you without words. She does not get any tender strokes on her cheeks nor does she get enjoy a quick hug. She lives a touch free life for the most part. 

Multiple times she choked back tears as we visited about her late husband. He was an interesting gentleman. I wish I could have met him.  63 years is a long time to share life with someone and then that person to be snatched away. 63 years of little day to day touches. A shoulder rub. An Eskimo kiss. Walking arm in arm. 

I left that visit with two take aways. First,  I want to make the most of the moments I have with Brenda. I know those times will not last forever. Either the Lord will take one of us home first, or Jesus will rapture us. The second take away is I need to remember how meaningful a handshake, a pat on the back or a hug might mean to someone who never gets any physical touch. I know this is a sticky topic in this day and time. There is such a thing as inappropriate touching. I certainly want to steer clear of that. On the other hand, God might use me and you to be the hands of Jesus to minister through simple human touch to other hurting and lonely people. Something as simple as human touch is something many of us take for granted everyday. May this be a reminder to keep watch for those who could use a little Jesus with skin on..

The Intruder

 Our financial secretary walked into my office today with surprising news. She informed me we had an intruder came into the main secretary's office. Somehow a bird got in there. We contemplated different plans on how to get the bird out. We settled on turning off all the lights in the officer and opening the door for the bird to find its way outside. It was our first and less intrusive option. We hoped it would work. 

I thought for a moment what if we went in trying to coax the bird to go through open doors. That did not seem like a fail proof plan. We probably would have scared the bird and got it even more disoriented to its surroundings. In our attempts to help, we most likely would have only made things worse causing the bird to panic. 

I thought for a moment if I was only a bird or at least could speak bird chirping so it would know we only wanted to help. I could have communicated that we just wanted to help the bird find freedom again. My inability to communicate with the bird only complicated matters. We depended on the bird's natural instincts to find the way of freedom. 

God tried repeatedly to communicate with humanity through history. He set up the law to reveal His righteous standards. 613 of them to be exact. No human could ever live up to that. People failed over and over again. God seemed so far removed. Too remote to relate to finite human beings. God sent help in the form of Jesus taking on humanity while remaining fully God at the same time. People can relate with Jesus. He was also tempted like us and yet without sin. His sacrificial death was the price redemption required. His resurrection sealed the deal. Jesus ate, slept, worked, sweat, and on at least one occasion even cried. He was born as a baby, though He existed before creation. He also died. He experienced pain and suffering. He understands us. 

God took the ultimate step to communicate His love to humanity. Jn 3:16 sums it up for us. God on His own initiative, sent His only Son, Jesus, because He loves us. Any person who believes in Him will not perish but be gifted with everlasting life. What a deal. It is too good to pass up, and yet many do pass it up over and over again until it is too late. Even though God proved His love. See Romans 5:8-9. Jesus shows us the way to the Father. There is no other way except through Jesus. John 14:6. Thank you Jesus for showing us the way.