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Daily Devotions
October 4
MEANINGFUL TOUCH
Orpah kissed her mother-in-law [Naomi], but Ruth clung to her.
Ruth 1:14
A study at UCLA found that just to maintain emotional and physical health, men and women need eight to ten meaningful touches each day! This study also estimated that if some men would hug their wives several times a day, they could increase their life span by almost two years! (Not to mention what it would do for their marriages.)
But remember we're talking about meaningful touches! At a marriage seminar I (Gary) conducted, I cited this UCLA study. A man in the second row reached over and began patting his wife on the shoulder, counting, "One, two, three …" That's not what I meant at all!
The UCLA researchers defined meaningful touching as a gentle touch, stroke, kiss, or hug given by significant people in our lives (a husband or wife, parent, close friend, and so on). They're referring to a touch that blesses and communicates—the difference between Orpah's dutiful kiss and Ruth's heartfelt embrace.
| Lord, it's so easy for my touch to become dutiful and perfunctory—a peck on the cheek, a pro forma handshake, and "Aunt Ethel" hugs. As I go through my daily activities, keep me aware of the life-giving property of meaningful touch.
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© Copyright 2005 Smalley Relationship Center
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