Embracing Him

When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” (Mark 5:27-28)

Last week, I heard an odd story during the Community segment on the evening news.  According to the news reporter, cuddle parties are increasing in popularity. Cuddle parties are described as non-sexual social events “where attendees gather to snuggle and cuddle with others while experiencing the joys of touch, affection, and communication.”

Perhaps such events have been taking place for a while but their existence is just now reaching my radar. Initially, I laughed out loud at the concept of such a gathering, but I stopped laughing when I thought about why there is a need for such parties. How disheartening it is to know that in today’s fast paced world we have literally lost touch with one another and some people now feel compelled to pay for the hugs, handholding, and other simple displays of affection they long for!

Today, it’s a bit harder to connect with others because of the hectic pace of our lives and the contemporary gadgets we depend upon. Offering or receiving a handshake is difficult because our hands are securely grasping cell phones and our fingers are flying over keys as we text. Hugging is a bit more challenging because we risk getting caught up in the cords of the earbuds attached to the iPods that pump a steady stream of music into our ears. Physically sitting beside a friend as she teaches a craft may seem exceptionally time consuming if we find can learn the same craft by watching a short YouTube video.

We may be losing touch with one another today, but in Jesus’ time, people seemed to move much more slowly and purposely. No one was moving too fast to be touched perhaps because the people recognized that a simple touch was important and often life changing! Think about the woman whose life was forever altered simply because she pressed her way through the crowd and touched the hem of our Lord’s garment (Mark 5:25-29)! Consider how Judas’ lips touched Jesus and the role that kiss played in God’s redemptive plan (Matthew 26:47-49). Recall Tabitha who was raised from the dead because Peter offered her the power of his God given healing touch (Acts 9:40-41).

When we take the time to touch amazing things can happen! A physical touch brings us together physically and emotionally. Touch provides us with physical warmth and comfort while it also affirms our worth and provides us a with a sense of safety and security. A mere loving touch can awaken us, refresh us, and stimulate us. Touch is a simple yet wonderful gift from God, one He intends us to freely give to others!

Yes, our days are hectic and indeed our lives are full. However, I encourage you to take a moment to give your loved ones a warm touch through hugging, patting, tickling, kissing, rubbing noses (Sugar Plum’s favorite), linking arms, or whatever other loving touch you can imagine. Give it a try and see what happens. I bet you’ll touch someone’s heart and make their day!

Photo: Courtesy of HdO-Helene (Flickr)

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. (John 8:7-8)

Yesterday, the weather was wonderful, so the girls and I met some friends for lunch and a playdate at a local park. The entire park was bustling with activity, but the gathering spot of choice for the youngest children was the sandbox.

As the children played in the sand, one little boy’s mother smiled as her son proudly hoisted his bucket of sand and showed it to her. However, his mother’s smile disappeared a split second later when her son poured the entire bucket of sand onto Sugar Plum’s head! Nearby parents gasped and little ones pointed at both the boy and Sugar Plum. I could feel anger rising inside of me, but knew I needed to remain calm and not create a poor example for my children.

As I bent down and tended to Sugar Plum, the mother knelt down and reprimanded her son about his inappropriate behavior. After speaking to her son, she turned to me and offered several apologies. Even though I had never met this woman, I could tell that she was sincerely sorry about what her son had done. I said nothing and gave a short nod to acknowledge the mother’s apology, but I remained visibly annoyed until I looked over her shoulder saw some children using their fingers to draw in the sand.

Right then and there, God used those little hands in the sand to speak to my heart. As I watched the children draw, I recalled Jesus’ reaction to the woman caught in adultery. The Pharisees had brought the woman before Jesus and explained the law dictated that she be stoned to death for her sin. When asked what he thought her punishment should be, Jesus overlooked the Pharisees’ questions and began to write on the ground with his finger. The Pharisees continued to question Jesus until He spoke and said, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”

When I reconsidered the sandbox situation, I realized how inappropriate it was for me to harbor any hard feelings toward this mother. Every now and then, our children make poor choices or engage in unacceptable behavior that catches us off guard. My children are no exception. In fact, I can vividly recall more than one occasion in which I had to offer up an apology on behalf of my child. I was in no position to throw a stone at this mother!

Sugar Plum, in her typical resilient style, was still eager to play after I dusted her off. Though grains of sand were still caught in her hair, she thoroughly enjoyed the remainder of her playdate. I spoke to the little boy’s mother and thanked her for her apology and we chatted for a minute or two about the spontaneous nature of little children. During our brief discussion, I could see relief on the mother’s face. I was grateful to God for using the sandbox to teach me a lesson about extending grace to others, a lesson I often need to be retaught.

That afternoon, as I shampooed the sand out of Sugar Plum’s hair, I was reminded that God often chooses to show up at the most surprising times and in the oddest places. In addition, His divine lessons often feature a variety of unconventional instruments. I did not expect to meet The Master in a dusty sandbox full of playful children, nor did I expect Him to teach me a lesson using such little hands in the sand.

Thank you Lord for offering me such a valuable lesson and for using a few little children to lead me!

Photo: Courtesy of wickenden (Flickr)

Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders. (Deuteronomy 33:12)

It’s Saturday morning and the Internet Cafe is open. Cafe Chat is a weekly gathering sponsored by Internet Cafe Devotions and our hostess Kim has offered yet another set of thought provoking questions:

First of all, do you struggle with insecurity issues? If no, why not?

If yes, can you tell of a specific situation that happened to you that brought out your insecurities?

If you do struggle with insecurity, what do you believe is the root cause of your insecurity?

Insecurity becomes a part of everyone’s life at one time or another but women seem especially vulnerable because we’re often attempting to tackle our many responsibilities perfectly all while striving to look and sound our best. We certainly don’t want to be viewed as incompetent and we surely don’t want anyone to frown upon our physical appearance either!

I’d love to say that I’m exempt from feelings of insecurity, but this is not the case. Unfortunately, I have been bitten by the insecurity bug many, many times. Once bitten, the same thing always happens. Venomous thoughts seep into my mind and cause me to question my worth and ability. These thoughts then rise to the surface, make me itchy and restless, and cause me to alter my behavior.

Over the years, I recall feeling insecure about my appearance and intelligence. These days I’m feeling fairly good about those areas, but motherhood is the one area in which I sometimes feel insecure. Oddly enough, my mothering insecurities are not brought about by other mothers. I don’t feel that I’m being a poor mother if I don’t do the things all my Mommy friends are doing as I recognize that my children’s needs may not mirror their children’s needs. My insecurity is self inflicted and for me, that’s the worst kind of insecurity.

This insecurity is rooted in my desire is to be the very best mother I can be. Motherhood is the job the Lord has given me right now, and I want to do the job to the best of my ability and please the Lord with my efforts. In addition, I want to make sure that my children are loved, nurtured, and taught in the best possible manner.

Sometimes the self inflicted burden of trying to do everything just right wears on me and I end up second guessing myself and beating myself up about my shortcomings. Am I giving both of my girls ample attention and love? Am I modeling a good example of Christ before them? Should I have been more patient during today’s reading lesson? Are my children internalizing the Christian values I’m working to instill within them? The list of questions goes on and on!

Is there a remedy for those of us who are pestered by the insecurity bug? Indeed there is! Though the bug may still buzz around me, I’m learning to arm myself with the greatest repellent there is: God’s word! The Bible is one of the most effective tools I can use to repel insecurity and alter faulty thought patterns. Let’s battle our insecurities by searching the scriptures and reading about how God strengthened people such as David, Esther, Daniel, Mary, and Paul and allowed them to overcome their insecurities. Thank God we can follow their examples and do the same!

As I leave you today, I’d like you to reflect upon the words of one of my favorite hymns, Leaning On the Everlasting Arms. All the verses are wonderful, but verse three is particularly encouraging if we’re feeling insecure!

(Verse 1)
What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms!

(Refrain repeated after every verse)
Leaning, leaning,
Safe and secure from all alarm!
Leaning, leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms!

(Verse 2)
Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

(Verse 3):
What have I to fear, what have I to dread,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace, with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms!

(Refrain):
Leaning, leaning,
Safe and secure from all alarm!
Leaning, leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms!

Listen to a beautiful instrumental version of this great hymn: