Therapeutic Touch

Whenever I hear the term therapeutic touch I get chills up my spine. TT as it is known in the New Age Medicine circles is birthed out of Eastern faith circles and is not a Christ centered practice. The other day I experienced a therapeutic touch that was totally of the Lord.
Violet is an elderly client that I visit who lives at home with her daughter. Violet suffers from bipolar disorder as well as schizophrenia. Her daughter who is now in her fifties was only six when her mother was first ill, so in some respects, this daughter has raised herself and her mother. Old treatments and medications have taken their toll on this woman who sat before me in a near catatonic state. There is little that can be done for her now because of the lasting side effects. She is often does not speak with her mouth but you can see it in her eyes. I look into her eyes and see right into her soul longing to come out and present itself to the world. My heart aches when I visit this woman. The Lord has given me so much compassion for her. When I have reached out to touch her face I have felt her pull back. However this last visit I asked the daughter if her Mom would mind if I hugged her. The daughter said that Mom would most certainly like a hug. When I asked Violet if I could hug her, her arms reached out for me. I hugged her and I felt her arms wrap around me and hug like she had never been hugged before. She wouldn't let go and held on for dear life. When I finally had to break the hold, she had a faint smile on her face. Not a real smile like you and I would manage, but a slight curvature of the mouth. This was all her face would allow her to make but I knew that inside she was smiling from ear to ear.
I tell this story not to lift myself but to encourage others to reach out. I was blessed as much if not more than Violet was. Only our merciful God could orchestrate moments like this. I love being His messenger. My only prayer is to be more open and obedient to these moments to bless others.