StrongFamilies Devotional

Matthew 20:29-34

Matthew 20:29-34
29As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" 31The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" 32Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. 33"Lord," they answered, "we want our sight." 34Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

U.S. News & World Report (Jan 13, 1997, Page 55) reported research by child psychologist Tiffany Field who had done research on the importance of touch. Premature babies who were massaged 15 minutes three times a day and gained weight 47 times faster than preemies who received excellent care but were hardly ever touched. The ones who grew faster weren't eating more, they just processed the nourishment more efficiently. No only that but babies who were touched, were judged to be more alert and aware of their surroundings. At eight months old they scored better on mental and motor tests than the nontouch infants did.

Touch has a healing effect on people of any age. Massage relieves the pain of children who have been burned severely. Touching improves the immune systems of AIDS victims. Even office workers proved more productive after a 15-minute massage.

Lord, I am amazed that while Jesus could have healed with only a word, he often chose to touch people when he healed them. Let me not forget to touch those around me who are hurting.