Today, as I drove by a familiar road, my mind returned to the day I visited a home near here and the veteran who resided there. This experience may have come to mind because we have been gathering and distributing supplies to those affected by Hurricane Helene.
A few years ago, our ministry received a call from a veteran who had just been released from the hospital. The call came in on Saturday, but I didn’t hear it until Monday. As I listened to the recording, my heart broke. He shared that although he was released from the hospital, he remained on oxygen. He said he hesitated to call but didn’t know what else to do. Then, he said, he had been out of food for a few days.
We purchased food and supplies that day and delivered them to his house. He lived alone in a broken-down home, just him and his dogs. Before I left, I asked if I could pray for him. He just nodded. I reached for his hand to pray. As I did, I glanced up at his weathered face—too weathered for his 65 years. I gently took his hand in mine. I placed my other hand over his shaking hand. As I did, he began to weep. I don’t mean he quietly wept. It was an uncontrollable sobbing. Something inside him broke. This scene has played over and again in my thoughts since that day.
Years later, this encounter remains in my thoughts. I can still see his shaking hands. I can still see his body tremble. I can still hear his sobs as tears rolled down his face.
That day, I knew he appreciated the food and supplies, but something touched him even more than supplies. It was a human touch. It was having someone care enough to come and minister to him.
He didn’t just lack food; he lacked the caring touch of another human being.
The power of touch is quite profound. At least when it comes from a place of love and care, it says, “I see you, and I care what is happening to you.” It conveys a sincere love. We all need touch. We need that connection for both emotional and physical well-being.
Touch is a language. One that has been shown to bring positive effects of healing. We all need to be touched in a loving way. It is a vital part of the human experience. However, many people rarely experience a caring human touch. How can that be?
In this fast-paced, social media world, the human touch is becoming less and less available.
We text instead of talk. We meet on Facebook instead of meeting for dinner. Our busy schedules – can make us feel we don’t have time to stop and show others that we care.
Yes, people need money. Yes, they need food. They need to pay their bills. However, I think that even more than that, they need to know that someone cares. A simple act of kindness. A human touch.
Proverbs 16:24 says, Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. (NLT)
It only takes a moment to speak a word of kindness to someone. It costs us nothing. And it brings healing to a wounded soul.
Colossians 3:12 says, Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
Hebrews 6:10 says, For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
When we show genuine acts of kindness, God is glorified. To me, that’s the best part of all. His light shines through us during these times. All true hope is in Him; if we can point others to Him, that’s the greatest thing we can do for them. We can do that by showing love and care.
I read a scripture in Acts 28:2 that caught my attention today. It says, And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold.
Today, I want to challenge you to show unusual acts of kindness to those who God leads across your path. Speak kind words. Not only that but show them you care. Give them a hug or a handshake. Look them in the eye and listen, really listen to their heart. In doing so, you are allowing God’s light to shine through you. His love is shining through you in every act of kindness. So…go ahead…let your light shine!
