If there is any primary emotion expressed through a kiss, it is love.
Granted there are a few different types, or characteristics of love, such as eros, phileo, and agape.
Originally, my limited understanding of agape love was that it can only be experienced from God Himself.
I am beginning to see now that I may have been mistaken.
In the same way I experience His voice through the Holy Spirit speaking directly to me, I also experience Holy Spirit speaking to me through others.
I am quite certain I experienced a tender expression of His agape love through someone giving me a kiss last week!
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I was with a team in Calcutta for 5 days and we had the opportunity to visit “The Motherhouse” where Mother Teresa lived and worked for 50+ years. We also had the privilege of being able to serve in one of the numerous Missionaries of Charity houses scattered throughout the city which were founded and operated by Mother Teresa.
There is a facility or “house” for the destitute and dying, the handicapped, orphans and children off of the street, convalescents, and also for lepers and outcasts.
We were assigned to Prem Dahn, which is a negligent medical facility for convalescents.
The compound was split into a men’s and women’s section….volunteers would go to the appropriate areas as well.
Our morning started off with hand washing bed sheets and clothes.
While some received medical care, the rest of the women were then taken to an open air, common area where volunteers went around visiting and loving on them…washing hands, painting nails, rubbing oil into their dry skin, giving head scratches, serving tea, and eventually lunch.
None of the women could speak English. We talked to them anyway and a number of them would talk to us as we nodded and smiled, trying to figure out what they were saying.
I started off washing hands in a bowl of water and scrubbing their nails with a little brush as if they were in a beauty salon. I then patted their hands dry with a towel and decided to finish off by giving them a hand massage.
The reactions I received seem to confirm the novelty and significance of receiving a hand massage.
- Some couldn’t help but hold back a smile.
- One just kept giggling and giggling.
- Another fell right to sleep! Her head kept dropping lower and lower until it was practically resting on the table.
A few women were blind.
One had intense scarring and no eyes due to being severely burned by her husband. While approaching, I noticed that she seemed evidently anxious and wouldn’t stop bobbing her head up and down as she mumbled consistently to herself. As I washed her deformed hands and gently put them in my own, I started stretching out her fingers and massaging what muscles were left in her hands. She fell silent and all of a sudden became peaceful and still as I sang and prayed blessing over her.
One of my favorite interactions was looking into the eyes of a bright eyed, rather sassy looking older lady who just kept smiling and staring at my hands as I massaged hers. I spent a little extra time with her because I loved watching the animated expression on her face.
When I finished and looked up smiling at her, she gingerly grabbed my head with a hand on each side of my face, pulled me close to her and to my surprise, kissed me – not once but four times! First on the left cheek, then on the right, then on my lips……she completed it by planting the final kiss on my forehead.
I ended up being the one smiling and giggling without reservation.
Even though we couldn’t speak the same language, I understood exactly what she was saying through that precious act. I felt so much love radiating through her kisses. Not just the type of love that was saying, “Thank you for giving me a hand massage”, but the deep, unwavering love of the Father.
As much as I was praying that those dear women of Prem Dan would experience Abba’s love through me last week, I was surprised and delighted to find that He also wanted to pursue me……He wanted me to experience His love as well!
And that I did…
I felt nothing but His genuine, agape love through the simple act of receiving those kisses.
I used to think the only way I could experience agape love was directly from God Himself.
I also used to think music was the only universal language.
Now I know:
~ Agape love can be experienced by Him loving through His people
also……
~ Kissing is a universal language! 🙂
