"Greet one another with a holy (consecrated) kiss." (Romans 16:16a TAB)
Cared for by her daughter, she was one of my favorite patients and so I would save my visits to her. Usually it was the last visit of the week. Driving through the Texas countryside, I wound my way through the small towns, across the river, up the hill, leaving pavement behind, crunching gravel to the cattle gate. Once through the gate (after shooing mama cow and calf away, all that was left of the herd), driving up to the house set amid an unruly garden of flowers. A riot of color. Once tamed and well kept, it too had succumbed to the illness of it's caregiver. Through the gate that protected the blossoms from the once numerous cattle and into the house.
She reminded me of leather that had been tough and hard but had softened over time, with age. By the time I met her she really didn't speak. Oh, she'd say a word or two (if you were lucky enough to catch them) but mostly it was gibberish and nonsense words. Our conversations went something like this: gibberish, gibberish, nonsense, child. Gibberish, nonsense, nonsense, gibberish, gibberish, baby. Her daughter and I would stand at the bedside and comment on the rare word we did understand, visit and include her as much as we could. Some days she would say nothing at all because she had been up for days and nights at a time talking all the while.
Whether I understood her or not, I loved her and her daughter. Their story was one that exemplified the pioneer spirit: they bought and cleared the land, built the house themselves and raised cattle while working in town to make ends meet. Gifted in growing things, they were also legends locally as cooks. As a family, they were devoted to each other.
Every visit included prayer, sometimes a song or two or a scripture, and always ended with a kiss. I would kiss her good-bye, remind her of God's love for her and mine and leave. This day, the visit was "typical" -- a kiss and walking to the door. I heard her say something but didn't catch it but her daughter began to chuckle. Turning, I looked and she said, "Did you hear what mama said?" Shaking my head no, she said, "Mama, tell Sunny what you said." I came back to the bedside, standing quietly, straining my ears. "That was some puny kiss, Sunny." she said, clear as day. The woman who couldn't put together a coherent sentence was critiquing my kiss and found it wanting! Quickly leaning over the bed, I apologized and kissed her again. . .soundly, fully.
I never left her again with a puny kiss. . .
Father, thank you for the reminder that everyone desires our best -- even in our kisses. Help me to not give half-hearted or puny kisses but greet your children with a kiss that expresses your love to them. Please help me not forget the lesson I learned from this family, love is more than what we do, it is a part of who we are in you. Amen.
