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Pucker Up

A kiss is a very personal thing. After all, if you allow someone else that close to your face, you should probably know them. And if you know them, you should probably ask before you just start kissing. Even as a married man I've learned that lesson the hard way. It's not that she has to be asked, but if she doesn't know it's coming, she could mistake my face for an enemy target. She consistently blames 'the war', though I'm pretty sure she's never been in combat. Maybe I'm wrong.

Why all this talk about kissing? Because of Proverbs 24:26. "An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips." I guess an honest answer could be like a kiss on the lips. On the other hand, a blunt response is like an upper cut to the chin. The answers to the following questions are examples;

Do you like this outfit?
Do you think I'm smart/fat/attractive/fun?

As I think about it, anytime we hear a question start with, 'Now tell me the truth...', it's probably an occasion when an honest answer may not exactly feel like a kiss. And that is unfortunate. It seems like this proverb rests on two important values. First, do we actually value truth? Second, do we find our significance in our relationship with God and nothing else? Answer no to either of these and honest answers will feel like sharp sticks in the eye.

I am trying to honestly answer yes to both of those questions every day. And through my writing, I hope to give each of you a kiss. So, pucker up.
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