A TOUCH CAN HEAL

My Journey
Nov.18,2007

My Journey with Cancer
By Muffet Dolar Villegas
The Healing Touch

I receive a hug very often. Even if they say that patients under chemotherapy should not mingle with a lot of people or stay away from a crowd because we might catch a virus due to very low immune system during the treatment, yet I am happy when someone hugs me.
Is there any connection with touch and healing? In the holy scriptures, Jesus healed many through a command, but some he reached out and touched them, like the leper. He was crying “unclean! Unclean!” so that people will go away from him, but Jesus touched him, and he was healed. Jesus touch meant a lot. It spelled acceptance and love from someone who is the source of hope and love.
Harold Sala wrote in his book Just for Today that a family counselor said that most unwanted pregnancies could have been prevented if a father only hugged his teenage daughter everyday. A hug is a manifestation of love. It can be a fatherly love, motherly, sisterly, brotherly, or plain friendly love.

People respond to a touch. The pain seems to go away when touched by a loving hand or a kind embrace.
Some of us are not so demonstrative when showing that we care. We are molded by the way we were brought up. If we grew up with not so demonstrative parents, we also act the same way as we were treated, but of course with some exceptions.
Our culture also says a lot about our behaviour. Some cultures encourage people to demonstrate a friendly embrace, while others are not permitted even to hold a hand because it connotes another meaning.
But even a pat at the back means something for someone who needs encouragement. A simple handshake says one is pleased to meet you. A hug means it is good to see you or mano po with children kissing the hands of the elderly in a Flipino culture is a sign of deep respect.
I received a lot of hugs lately from women who asked me to speak about the spiritual side of this journey. My family is always demonstrative of their love for me but now I get twice the amount of hugs from them everyday.
A touch like faith in God, can heal.