Book Review — Handle With Care by Lore Ferguson Wilbert

Handle with Care is a book that does not compare to any I’ve read before. It is something special, unique, and powerful as a whole. Lore opens up an entire world of touch that many of us never even knew existed, or have long neglected, afraid to do it wrong or uncomfortable with the more concept.

Lore brings such a human need to the forefront of our minds and shows us what it looks like to view touch as a ministry and not as a burden, or worse, something dirty. She shows us our human need for touch, and that it is good.

In this book, Lore so beautifully pinpoints what it looks like to view touch from God’s point of view, always placing Jesus as our central example. This book is infused with verses and godly wisdom and contexts that truly change how we see touch when taken at face value.

The beautiful thing about Handle with Care is that it was not written as a how-to or a “ten steps to success” type of formula. No, lore is interested in getting to the heart.

Much in the same way that we tend to want legalism when God is calling for love, Lore shows us how to view touch from the lens of love instead of legalism.

At first glance, we see simply from the basis of the table of contents that she covers every topic encompassing touch, as well as some we would never imagine. This book isn’t primarily about sexual touch, but about true intimacy.

In this book, Lore will cover topics such as:
-the ways in which we use our hands in life
-how our love language and family history impact the ways in which we touch as well as the frequency
-self touch
-touch/lack of/healthy and needed touch for singles
-male/female as well as same gendered friendships in regard to touch
-affectionate and intimate touch in relationships that is not sexual
-touch in marriage
-touch in regards to children
-remembering the church body and our future bodies
-a letter addressed to those who’ve been abused

One of the main takeaways and healing agents I have taken from this book has been the way I now view the word intimacy, and how I give and receive it. The definition of intimacy is defined as “close familiarity or friendship; closeness” or “a private cozy atmosphere” before the definition itself gets anywhere close to sexual intimacy.

The way my definition of this word has gotten overturned, so has touch as a concept as a whole. I have always been shamelessly touchy with those I love, but now even moreso, I plan to be INTENTIONAL with the ways in which I touch and to show touch as a form of care.

As someone who loves touch and has long viewed the ways in which I am able to give touch as something special and part of my gifting, I have never had language for it or a context in which to have a conversation around this topic. This book has brought touch to the forefront for me to think about, talk about, write about, and consider, in practical, daily life. At a time such as this one, thinking about touch has been quite an incredible topic to ponder.