The Kiss

The Kiss

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are” (1 John 3:1a)!

Remember when a kiss could make everything better? A scrapped knee, a stolen toy, a scary dream. Whatever the crisis…a quick kiss and a few moments of rocking, cradled in mommy’s or daddy’s arms, and the world was a brighter place to be in again.

Then we grew older and discovered it wasn’t quite so simple. Life pummeled with painful blows leaving wounds that ran deep. Things stolen from us were not recovered. And the scary monsters under the bed wore masks of addiction, infidelity, cancer, divorce, bankruptcy, and abandonment. A neighbor who drove school bus for over 30 years liked to say, “Remember, Tim, the only one who has all his or her problems behind them is a school bus driver.” So true!

What was the magic in the kiss? Was it only a play on our yet-to-be surrendered innocence? Was it that the crisis wasn’t big enough, or the pain not real enough? No. You were there alright. You know the pain was real. But so was the healing.

 Derek Redmond arrived at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona determined to win a medal in the 400. The color of the medal was meaningless; he just wanted to win one. Just one. Forced to withdraw from the 400 at the 1988 Games in Seoul, only 10 minutes before the race, because of an Achilles tendon injury Redmond underwent five surgeries over the next year. So, when the 1992 Games arrived, this was his time, his stage.

Down the backstretch, only 175 meters away from finishing, Redmond was a shoo-in to make the finals. Suddenly, he felt a pop in his right hamstring. It was as if he had been shot. His hope of medaling was gone. Upon Derek’s insistence to finish the race, his father avoided security guards, wrapped his arm around his weeping son and they finished the race together. You cannot google “Derek Redmond’s Olympic Run” without a tear in your eye. Why?

Here it is in a sentence: We all long to be held in the arms of a loving father. Sadly, it often doesn’t happen with an earthly dad in this life. But there will always be a little child in each of us that - when we are scared or hurt or broken - wants to be able to run to a father, jump in his arms, and have him kiss, hug, and whisper our hurts away.

My friend - think this verse through slowly. “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God” (1 John 3:1). Not only did it cost the Almighty Father his Son to save us from sin and death and hell; and not only were we enemies so that God had to propitiate his own righteous anger to save us; but he went way beyond the love of rescue and the love of sacrifice and the love of mercy to his enemies.

God the Father showed us another kind of love - a scandalous love. He took us into his family. He made us to be called children of God. Can you picture his loving arms around you, cradling you, as he kisses your cheek? Hear his Word that declares his love for you.” You are my child.” “I am your Father.” His love for you is real. And so is his healing. So, finish strong for him.