Brother, Can You Spare A Hug?

Since I have lost my voice, I have developed a great craving for human contact----either a hug, a handshake or just a pat on the arm.

When I was in Rehab at Good Samaritan Hospital in Baltimore after my bout of Guillain-Barre’ Syndrome, many of the nurses and therapists went out of their way to give hugs and pats to their patients.  I appreciated the attention but did not recognize their therapeutic value.

A simple Google of “hugs have therapeutic value” brought up 8,500 hits.  One article “The Therapeutic Value of a Hug” by Glen Fiero quotes a book Touching: The Human Significance of Skin by Dr. Ashley Montagu:

 http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Therapeutic-Value-of-a-Hug&id=2515633

Dr. Montagu writes,

“Both the hugger and the person being hugged benefit because they have the immediate positive outcome of feeling good.  Hugs are heartwarming and can have the effect of leaving one energized and rejuvenated.  A caregiver’s hug accurately expresses to a child feelings of love, acceptance, comfort and a desire for closeness.”

“Hugging is health-enhancing because it reduces tension and stress, aids the immune system, helps with sleep, assists in building self-esteem and best of all has no negative side effects.  When we open our hearts and arms to others, we inspire them to do likewise.”

In “A Touch of Love”, Eric Kreye says:

http://www.amazingjoy.com/helpdailyliving/help18hug.htm

“Jesus knew the importance of touching and He used it in His contact with people all the time.”

“Mark 10 records an occasion when "they brought young children to Him, that He might touch them."

“In Bible times leprosy was the most dreaded disease and was incurable.  Since it was also contagious, anyone who had it was shunned.  In fact, such a person was sent away from the rest of society.  The constant call "unclean, unclean" was a sickening cry by lepers as they begged for food and clothing. They were the untouchables of that society.”

“But Jesus wasn't afraid to give a touch of love.  When a leper approached Him one day asking for healing, Jesus "moved with compassion, put out His hand and touched him...."  Immediately the man was made completely well.  (See Mark 1:40-42.)”

“There was healing in a touch from Jesus.  By His touch the blind could see, the deaf could hear, the lame could walk and run.’

According to Kreye “Professionals in the field of medicine know the value of touch. At New York University the therapeutic value of touch is part of their nursing program. One study revealed that 93% of doctors believe that touch helps relieve a patient's fear of treatment.”

I guess that I am not out of line in asking “Brother, can you spare a hug?”