I’m a face touch-er. When I say something important or intimate or heart-felt to someone I care about, I sometimes put hand on cheek and look eye to eye. It’s my way of saying, “This is important” or “I wish you could see what I see” or “I believe in you.”
Sometimes when I’m holding a face (like a week ago when I was hanging out with a bunch of teenagers), what I’m about to tell them is difficult. My touch says “I care about you” while my mouth is saying something tough for them to hear.
“I love you, but I don’t agree with you.”
“You’re headed down a dangerous road, and I’m concerned about you.”
“You say you love God, but are you willing to do the hard things for Him?”
The whole face-touching thing seems weird to me. Don’t know where I learned this or why my impulse is to “mother” some people, other than maybe this: God consistently speaks tough truths in my life, and many times I can almost feel Him touching my face. Sounds crazy, but I don’t know how else to describe it. My friend Lucille sent me this last week … and it confirmed what I suspected.
God is a face touch-er, too. And I love that about him.
O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand!
~ Psalm 139 (in part), New Living Translation
I’m going to start doing this with my two year old granddaughter. How special this will be for us.
I love that your a face-toucher. I’m not someone that really loves to be touched, but thats one touch I like, it shows you care. I think there have been a few face-touches from you that have said “I’m worried about you” or “I believe in you” or the best of all “I’m with you.” The touch makes it feel like everything is going to get better, it gives hope knowing that you care.
Keep on face-touching, friend. it’s a “you” thing that I love!
i am the same. good to know i got that from my Father.
I smothered my 12-year-old with face touches this morning before I sent him off to his first day of middle school. Not sure he liked it, but made me feel a whole lot better.