The Five Love Languages Part 6 // Physical Touch
A Message by Pastor Mark Jordan
Physical touch is a powerful way to communicate emotional love
- From simple to more intimate forms physical touch goes a long way to help fill our love tanks
- There’s something about that tactile contact and interaction that expresses our humanity
- Every culture shows some form of physical touch in greeting
- Physical touch makes a life-long difference
Jesus and “Doubting” Thomas (Read John 20:24-29)
- Physical touch helped Thomas accept the truth of Jesus’ love!
- Thomas needed to know he wasn’t alone
Physical Touch and Crisis
- Almost instinctively, we offer hugs when we see someone in a time of crisis
- In a time of crisis, more than any other, we need to feel loved
- We all experience crisis, physical touch helps us remember we’re not alone
Reach Out and Touch Someone:
- Physical touch can make or break a relationship
- Physical touch can take place in just a passing moment, or can require more time, energy, and intention
Reflection Questions
- When have you experienced your love tank being filled by physical touch?
- How does physical touch help express our humanity?
- How does physical touch help our human development? What happens when we do not receive the touch we need even in infancy?
- How did Jesus allow physical touch with Thomas to convey love?
- What kind of differences do physical touch when its spontaneous? How about when it requires time, energy, and intention?
If Your Loved One’s Love Language Is Physical Touch
- As you walk from the car to the shopping mall, reach out and hold your loved one’s hands.
- While eating together, let your knee or foot drift over and touch your loved one. Be careful to make sure you aren’t rubbing the dog.
- Walk up to your spouse and say, “Have I told you lately that I love you?” Take him/her in your arms and tell him/her he/she is the greatest. Untangle yourself and move on to the next thing.
- While your loved one is seated, walk up behind him/her and initiate a shoulder massage.
- When sitting on the couch watching television, grab your loved one’s foot and give him/her a foot massage.
- If you sit together in church, when the pastor calls for a prayer, reach over and hold your spouse’s hand.
- When your loved one comes home, have his/her favorite song cued up and start playing it when he/she enters the house, and ask him/her to dance with you until the song ends.
- When your loved one arrives at home, meet him/her one step earlier than usual with a big hug. If you normally meet at the door, go to the garage. If you normally meet at the garage, go to the street. Then, as the car turns into the driveway, stop the car, have him/her roll down the window and greet with a kiss. If you normally meet at the street, hide in the parking area and step out as your loved one opens the door and give him/her a hug. (Be sure he/she sees you before you grab them!)
- Riding down the road together, reach over and touch your loved one on the leg, hand, arm, etc.
- When family or friends are visiting, touch your loved one in their presence. As hug, running your hand along his/her arm, putting your arm around their waist as they stand talking, or simply placing your hand on his/her shoulder can earn double emotional points. It says, “Even with all these people in our home, I still see you.”
Chapman, Gary Dr., The Five Love Languages. Northfield Publishing, Chicago, IL. 1992. Adapted from pgs. 129-130