Look But Don't Touch

"Now, before we get out of this car, I want you to listen to me -   Keep your hands to yourselves, don't touch ANYTHING!" Mom would warn us as we unloaded the car and lined up along the back bumper.  She repeated the warning a couple of more times as she licked her thumb, giving us a spit bath before we trekked into wherever we were going.  Once inside, if she looked our way and noticed even the tiniest indication something was catching our eye, she quickly reiterated, "Don't touch it,  I told you to keep your hands to yourself."  It goes without saying, we didn't go to stores with signs like "Look but don't touch" or "Pretty to touch, nice to hold, but if you break it, consider it sold", with four children 10 and under, she knew better!

I did the best I could to obey, but it was difficult to keep my hands to my side, especially when something was pretty, I just wanted to touch it.  Even all these years later, I am still that way, maybe even worse.  I just love beautiful things and, for me, part of completely appreciating something is reaching out and touching it.  I just can't help it.

This time of year there are a few stores I could visit and not emerge from for hours because of all the pretty things they have in preparation for the Christmas season.  The items to behold are endless and I want to reach out and touch all the things that mesmerize my eyes and heart.  The things that make me take a quick breath when my eyes fall upon them, I have to see them with my fingers.

And handmade things,  quilts and such, are especially captivating.  I reach my hand out and touch the fabric to feel as my eyes take in the beauty of the stitches, the time, the love woven into the fabric pieces.  It's as if I haven't completely taken it in until my eyes have beheld and my hands have held what is so beautiful.

And just as I reach out to touch the things that mesmerize me, the Father wants to reach down and touch you.   

So the King will greatly desire your beauty;
Because He is your Lord, worship Him.
Psalms 45:11

He sees you, sweet one, and is mesmerized by your beauty and wants to tenderly touch your heart and make you His own.  He can't keep His hands to Himself when He beholds you.  He knows the story is not complete until His eyes have beheld and His hands have held what is so beautiful.

Question is -

Will you let Him?  Or does the sign on your heart read "Look but don't touch"?

Oh, I hope it doesn't.  His touch is so sweet, so intimate, and nothing compares to an encounter with Him. 

He can be trusted, my friend, He won't drop you. 

He won't damage you. 

He won't break your heart.

Will you let Him touch you?

Father, Your hand is not only mighty to save, but is tender to touch.  So many need your touch, would You reach forth your loving hand and touch the hearts of my friends today?  May extra warmth from your hand touch the heart that is afraid to risk being broken, the one with the sign that reads "Look but don't touch".  And for the one who feels less than beautiful, less than captivating, would you let her know how special she is to you?  Because of your nature, I trust that you are already reaching.  Thank you that you touched me, as the old hymn says, and made me whole.  Yes, there is joy that floods my soul.  You touched me, even today, and made me whole.

XOXO,
Amy