Relationship ResonanceSample

"(P)hysical Touch"

When our youngest son, Jacob, was born, everything was going well until about 1 minute after I cut the umbilical cord. That’s when he turned blue and stopped moving. The room became completely silent while we watched a nurse perform CPR on his lifeless body. My wife and I began to pray for a miracle – God answered. Jacob began to move and regain some color. 

However, the stress on his body required them to take him to the NICU for a two-day feeding infusion. But before they took him away, the nurse wanted Jacob and mommy to get in plenty of skin-to-skin contact. 

Why the kangaroo time? Infants who are touched gently on a regular basis gain weight and grow faster than babies without such contact. Being touched by another person can trigger a cascade of chemical responses in our bodies that relieve stress and pain; create feelings of security and happiness; develop healthy relationships; enhance the immune system; decrease blood pressure; and improve blood sugar levels. Newborns denied physical touch have higher mortality rates even when they are provided with adequate food, clothing and shelter. We need physical touch to thrive. 

We can high-five and handshake at work. We can never give out too many hugs and kisses to our loved ones at home.  My wife loves it when I hold her hand or put my arm around her. Words can’t describe the joy I feel when my children hug me. These simple acts can be so uplifting.

So I challenge you to give out 5 hugs to loved ones and 5 handshakes at the office this week to people that you normally wouldn’t give them to.