Holding Hands Helps
In the first study of how human touch affects the body's response to stress and threatning situations, Dr. James Coan, a phychologist in the departments of psychology and neuroschience at the Universityh of Virginia, recurited married volunteers, slid them into MRI machines, and warned them to expect an electric shock on their ankles. When spouses reached into the machines to hold their respective partner's hand, a simple yet loving gesture of support, the part os the brain that registers the anticipation of pain "turned off". The volunteers also said that they felt less distress
The hand holding also reduced agitation in the hypothalamus, the area of the brain that controls the release of stress hormones, which turn off our immune function. Eventually, a weakened immune system can make us sick.
"We can't see what our spouses are doing to our brains and emotions until a stressful event arises, but it's going on all the time." says Dr. Coan. "When a wife holds or caresses her husband, she is really reaching into the deepest parts of his brain, calming down the neural'threat response."
Can it be that easy access to a wifely hug after a fall out with a neighbor, or a pounding on the golf course is as potent as a tranquilizer or a beta blocker? It starts with the simple act of holding hand and hugging, long and loving embraces, several times a day, according to the latest science.
The human body is a wonderful creation. God, in his wisdom, created a machine that while frail, is still strong. It heals itself, cleanses itself, and yet, each one is different. One person may heal faster than another. One person can overcome a certain illness quickly, yet in another, the same illness may linger. Each of us is different. A cut on one person may leave a big, ugly scar, and the same cut on the other, may heal with almost no scar.
The human heart is much the same. It can carry scars. What may scar one person’s heart, in a very traumatic way, may be almost nothing to another. Scars are, in my experience, caused by guilt. We know from 1 Cor 10:13, which God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can overcome. “ No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” Knowing this, when we fall, we feel guilt, and this, is what leads to repentance.
Often, we know someone is in pain, and suffering, and has scars. Often, we know why, but, how often do we look down on them, because we have been through a similar experience, and come out with smaller, or no scars. But do we really know the whole story? Chances are, we don’t. So should we look down on them? NO!
In John 13:34, we are instructed to love one another. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love on another.” How many other such scriptures are there? Too many for me to try and put down here. The message is the same in each one. Love each other. How can we do that, if we are to quick to assume what doesn’t bother us, doesn’t bother someone else? Or that they can overcome that pain as quickly.
That, is my 2 cents worth for today.
