Crossposted to Holy Leftovers.
It’s been my custom for many years, now, to take a vacation from work during the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s Day. It’s a time of general reflection on where I am and who I’ve become, what I’ve done and what’s been accomplished. This year, it’s also been a realization of need. I was led to share at meeting for worship, last weekend. I was moved to tears, more by the weight of what I could not say than by the words that I did speak. What I had felt was an affirmation of our actions, an assurance that what we do with and for other people, whether they are aware of our acts of kindness or not, makes a difference in this world.
One of the women attending meeting, that morning, then came over to sit by me, and she held my hand. It was then that I was struck by my own physical isolation. How often do health problems keep us apart from others? How often are we deliberately touched physically? How often do we receive a handshake or a touch on the arm? Maybe it’s not something that you’re missing out on, but I am because of my sensitivity to fragrances. I hadn’t realized how long it had been or even that I’d missed it, until that morning.
People feel affirmation and reassurance in various ways. Affirmation from God and from the people around us. It’s important.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.(John 13:34-35, NKJV)
This is a very important thing. At the beginning of the journey, how do we really know of God’s love, if we are not loved by God’s people? How else can I know it’s not all just a dream?


