I could go on about how touch people love massages, getting their hair washed/brushed, sitting next to you, manicures, hugs, hand holding…and the like. BUT that is not what is on my heart today.

Today there’s a woman on my heart, for whom one touch changed EVERYTHING.

This woman had a bleeding disorder.

And in the culture in which she lived…this disorder prevented her from leaving her home. EVER.

Complete isolation.

This disorder also prevented anyone from touching her because she was considered unclean.

Zero touch at all…for 12 years!

12 years equals 3 presidential terms!

12 years equals elementary, jr high, and high school!

To me a quality time and touch person. That would be torture or the very least 12 years of love starvation!

During this 12 long years, she spent everything she had on doctors. They took her money, and left her in worse health than when she started.

So she suffered…in complete isolation for 12 years, and was now without any options.

Just so we are clear here…this poor woman was “unclean” so no one could visit unless they were family who lived with her. But no family is mentioned.

No phone or internet to chat with folks online. No tv. She may have had some books…but considering her poverty…probably not. So she’s most likely bored on top of sick, poor, and lonely.

Then one day….through her window… she began to hear stories of a man from Galilee. A man that was going around laying hands on the sick, and they were being healed.

Lame people were walking.

Blind people were receiving sight, and the deaf were hearing.

And hope crept in…

“…maybe…” She thought.

“I mean…I can’t ask Him to touch me..because I am unclean. But if I can just touch the hem of His garment…”

Faith rose in her.

Despite her weakness, she got up. She got dressed. She left her house. She pressed into the crowd until she could get no closer to Him.

Determined…she dropped to her knees…and crawled through the crowd.

I should also mention that touching a man that is not your husband, father, or son could lead to you getting stoned. And I don’t mean high, buzzed, or whatever kids call it these days…I mean rocks thrown at you until you die.

And still…she pushed on through the crowd until she touched the hem of His garment.

Suddenly…after 12 years…she was healed. No more bleeding. Amazing right?!

Well yes, but she was still considered unclean for 7 more days. And she touched a man who was clearly not a relative.

So she needed to sneak out of there SUPER FAST! But to her dismay she hears, “Who touched Me?”

Shit.

Well…she’s in Roman occupied Israel so she probably said something in Aramaic, Hebrew, or Latin…but come on! If this were you, and after what you have suffered in the past 12 years and you were almost out of there…you’d at least think…

“Damn. So close.”

But back to the brave woman…

She musters her courage and approaches Him…trembling. Then falls on her knees…

“It was me.”

Now I picture a whole crowd of townsfolk, who know who she is, falling over themselves to get away from her. I hear women gossiping, and men yelling their disappoval.

But not my Jesus. He is moved with compassion as she tells Him her story.

He responds by calling her “Daughter.”

It is the only place in the entirety of Scripture Jesus calls anyone daughter.

Personally I picture Jesus taking her by the hands, helping her to stand. Lifting her chin to look in her eyes, before saying…

“Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” Luke 8:48 NKJV

Point to ponder while you wander… Touch is a powerful thing. Like words, touch, can lift spirits, encourage, comfort, and even heal. We can all use more of this kind of touch in our lives.

But remember…Love respects people’s personal space and doesn’t touch people without their consent.

When in doubt…give a high five. 🖐❤

Ps…

Luke 8:43-48

Mark 5:25-34

Matthew 9:20-22