I believe isolation does weaken us. It leaves us open to infection and deception because we don’t have anyone loving us enough to redirect us when we might be heading off in a wrong direction or wrong thinking. We need each other so very much. We think all this technology is opening doors to new relationships, and it might very well be doing that…but it is not a substitute for the warmth of a physical touch, a loving spoken word and real smile. Being so far from the ones we love, I have come to treasure the people who have physically reached out to me and my kids. A hug these days is a real treasure and I am so very sorry for the people who don’t realize what they are missing by isolating themselves behind a computer or away from a loving church family. We need to pray that we all be drawn back together and that we be bold enough to reach out–physically–and touch people with God’s love.

Having spent an awful lot of time in the NICU with my son, I have seen first hand, babies that go for days at a time without so much as a word from a healthcare provider. These babies are often listed as ‘failure to thrive’ when the only difference between them and the baby next door is whether the parents or someone comes to visit regularly. They have started using touch therapy however in some of the places we are at. Someone comes in and just sits and holds the babies or talks to them. It is making a real difference.
It is a human need to connect with someone, and it is evident even at that early stage. Look at how much emphasis is placed on mother/child bonding in the first few days. We all need a connection, whether we are 50 minutes old, or 50 years.