The Blessing

MEANINGFUL TOUCH

Meaningful touch is another way to bless others. In Old Testament homes, meaningful touch was an essential element in bestowing the blessing. When Isaac gave his blessing, he touched his son as he kissed him and embraced him. Jacob did likewise as he imparted a blessing to his grandchildren. Even Jesus used meaningful touch bless people as Mark 10:13 tells us: “THEY BROUGHT YOUNG CHILDREN TO HIM, THAT HE MIGHT TOUCH THEM.” “Each time the blessing was given in the Scriptures, meaningful touch provided a caring background to the words that were spoken. A hug, a hand on the shoulder, a kiss, the squeezing of an arm are important in communicating love, warmth, caring, acceptance and affirmation. In the Old Testament, the symbolic picture of touch was important. Touch was a graphic picture of the transferring power of blessing from one person to another.”

“Even today the symbolic meaning of touch is powerful and uplifting. While we may not be consciously aware of it, touch carries tremendous symbolic meaning and results in a blessing. An airport is a good place to observe the power of touch as it conveys a sense of caring, love, acceptance and approval. The power of touch is also evident as one observes what happens when a young man, surrounded by family, gets ready to leave for the service.” Or as a family greets a parent who has returned from a long business trip. Researchers continue to discover the emotional and physical blessings of touch. Meaningful touch is a powerful way to bless those in our families. Even in our times there are appropriate ways to touch our children no matter what their age. A simple touch on the shoulder or a gentle, loving poke on the arm or a scratch on the back or a stroking of the hair are appropriate and powerful ways to give a blessing. Writing in his book, How To Really Love Your Child, psychologist Dr. Ross Campbell says, “With our hands (as parents) we have a way of assuring our children’s emotional security and our success as parents.” Children and spouses thrive on meaningful and appropriate touch. Without question, they are blessed by it.It helps them to know that they are loved, accepted valued, and cared for.

BLESSING OTHERS

In the providence of God, our biological families are the primary place for us to receive blessings.It is, however, not the only place. The family of God is also expected to be a place where blessings are given. The Body of Christ or the church exists to bless people. God expects us to bless one another.“From earliest times God’s people have been called to be a blessing to others. When God first called Abraham, He gave him a specific promise. In Genesis 12:2-3 God said to Abraham: ‘I WILL BLESS YOU…..AND YOU SHALL BE A BLESSING.” Some people don’t have biological families to bless them so God seeks to bless them through the family of God.

God blesses us with the intention that we, in turn, bless others. That is our divine calling in life. When God’s people are blessing others the church becomes a powerful, life-giving, life-lifting force for good.Encouraging words, listening ears, helping hands, caring ways and empathetic hearts are avenues through which we bless others. Sometimes we bless people by just accepting them as they are. We bless folk by introducing them to Jesus Christ. Sometimes the blessing comes as we invite someone into our world to spend some time with us or by sharing of our temporal resources.Through the Deacons’ Fund we can bless many hurting, hungry, homeless folk. The ironic thing is that as we bless others, we, in turn, are blessed.