Touch

Reach out and touch somebody – the jingle for AT&T. After long days of work at home, trying days with the children, the loss of loved ones, disappointing news, and times of depression, we all need to be held. We all need love, gentleness, tenderness, and giving.

One day last week my husband Ron and I had the opportunity to visit a friend. For privacy I am going to call her Grace. We sat out on her screened porch socially distancing and enjoying the company, the songs of birds and the beauty of the surrounding garden. Grace caught us up with news of her children and grandchildren and we lamented together at not being able to have family over to our homes for dinners or have grandchildren over to play and have fun as we used to. Some businesses were starting to open up as COVID-19 deaths were decreasing as people were continuing with social distancing. Grace had just that morning been to the hairdressers and as she related her experience it literally took my breath away. “I had the most profound experience this morning as my hairdresser combed and cut my hair. I told her how wonderful it felt as it was the first time anyone had touched me in 3 months!” Grace continued on “I said to my hairdresser please do not think me weird I was just stating a fact.” That statement made me cry. Grace is a very young and vibrant widow in her sixties with a lovely house but no one with whom she can share it with at this point in history. No family dinners or grandchildren sleepovers.

As I look at the pictures below of our children, relatives and grandchildren I shall never again take for granted the healing comfort of the life giving touch. Reach out and touch someone – even if it is virtually!