Photo Courtesy of Creative Communications for the Parish

Each time an email drops into my inbox telling me another pastor has decided to purchase a couple hundred booklets for their church, my heart fills to the brim with deep gratitude. Thank you to all my readers who are spreading the word! It is because of your efforts that so many more families will be praying together this Lent. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!

Enjoy this next excerpt from the devotional!

SATURDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY

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Love’s Healing Touch

People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me.” MARK 10:13-14

In 1987, Dr. Tiffany Field studied the impact of touch on babies born too early. She discovered that even though all the premature babies ate the same amount, the babies that were massaged for fifteen minutes a day gained 47 percent more weight. Dr. Field said that she believed that it was sheer love: The massaged babies felt loved through the contact.

Talking to God in prayer has the same effect on us. We feel loved through contact with Our Savior.

When someone hugs us on a bad day, it makes things hurt less. Our Savior wants to be that someone. When he wraps us up in his great love, things do hurt less. When it is his will, he can take away the hurt completely.

WITH OUR SAVIOR » Dear God, remind me, I pray, to always turn to you. When you wrap me up in your great love, I always feel better.

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WITH YOUR FAMILY » Try an experiment of your own. For one whole day, don’t hug your family at all. The next day, hug them as much as you want. Compare your feelings. Share what you find.

*Excerpt used with permission from Creative Communications for the Parish.

Booklets begin at $1.99 each, but reduce in price the more you order. To order in bulk, visit Creative Communications for the Parish.  For smaller orders, email withoursavior@gmail.com.