The holy act of hand-holding

Gemma Hunt reflects on how a simple hand hold breaks down barriers of age, language and even disconnection. The power of such simple touch points to a deeper truth: we are always held in the gentle but secure grasp of God’s hand

When was the last time you held someone’s hand?

This is question from someone whose love language is physical touch where I relish the physical contact of hugs, hand holding and closeness of loved ones but I know that not everyone feels the same way. Although, there seems to be something quite special about holding someone’s hand, even if you’re not a physical touch kind of person.

I remember this enjoyment starting for me when I was a teenager and had the responsibility of babysitting a toddler. She would climb up on to my lap and find comfort in holding my hand whilst we watched TV, or how I would hold my younger sister’s hand whilst crossing a busy road. This made me feel like an adult with great responsibility to take care of her in a potentially hazardous situation. Over the years of working in television and in children’s venues at summer camps and festivals I have had the privilege of holding hands with many children. Whether this was to help them on to play equipment, jump over puddles, guide them around shops or museums or even to dance with them, I always felt a great sense of trust as they let me guide them…