Kisses

Here in Mozambique and in many other countries for that matter, when a person meets another person, they greet each other by exchanging a kiss on the right cheek and then on the left cheek.  This is a kiss goodbye to the American custom of shaking hands and safely keeping arms’ length between two individuals.  Yes, at first, it is a little awkward and strange to think of kissing everyone you meet, but it really is a beautiful thing.  It is a beautiful thing to draw one another close without regard to whether or not they are contagious, dirty, short, tall, or have bad breath.  Truth be told, we are all a little different and have at least one quality that makes us “undesirable.”  So, let’s stoop and stretch to draw one another close.  Only then do we get to feel the warmth of their being and share in the gentleness and grace of something as simple as a kiss.  Cheeks are where smiles form and tears fall.  This is a blessed place to meet your neighbor.