Day 2: "Without Saying A Word"

Have you ever sat alone on a park bench and watched children play? A small girl runs by, trips and falls. Her cries were loud, and her tears were falling. A mother rushes to her, enfolds her into loving arms – without saying a word. The child’s cries ceased, and tears stopped… all because of a hug.

A small boy lost his toy, and he also cried loudly until his father hugged him without saying a word. The boy’s cries also ceased and were replaced with a smile.

I entered the sanctuary of our church one Sunday morning a few years ago and took my seat at the end of a pew where I usually sat. Somehow I felt lonely, and I began looking around at the people gathered there. I thought, “This is God’s house and God’s family. I wonder why they are all here?” Some were smiling, some were sad, and some were just sitting there (as I was) – just thinking. Why did we all assemble here this morning? We had served the Lord in various ways the past week. Perhaps some were just tired and needed a few peaceful moments. Some had reached the age where they could not serve as they had in the past.

The music began, we stood and sang songs of praise. Prayers were spoken, and the pastor began to speak. His message was “Serving by the Christian Touch.” People listened, and I’m sure some of them, if not all, vowed to remember his words, just as I did. I came home, and for some time the words he had said kept rushing through my mind. So one morning I sat down with paper and pen wrote the following poem:

“The Christian Touch”

When the day is dark and dreary
     You are left at home alone,
The house is filled with memories,
     Of your loved one God called home.

You feel the empty stillness,
     But you know you’re not alone,
For God’s presence is there with you
     And you can almost see the throne.

Then you wonder why you’re lonely
     And the tears fall so much,
You know the answers to your longing,
     It’s that you need that Christian Touch.

Perhaps you’ve never walked the path,
     Your needs were not as such,
But to me it’s God’s way of healing
     Broken hearts with sincere Christian Touch.

So look around you – God’s holy family,
     Seeing the people whose tears fall afresh.
Put your loving arms around them.
     Let them feel that wonderful Christian Touch.

Now that you’ve read the poem, may I say, “Try it; it works; I know. I’ve been there. I’ve felt the Christian Touch, and a word was never said.”

~Ruby Hill