One of the pleasures of being married is the unlimited kisses that come along with it. As a widow, I miss Nate’s kisses.

Although most widows are mum about the loss of intimacy after a husband dies, all of us miss it. But there are many other kinds of kisses besides those between husbands a wives. For example, in Scripture we see kings kissing their subjects, believers greeting each other with kisses, and Jesus being betrayed with a kiss. There are hello-kisses and goodbye-kisses, and kisses between parents and children.

God uses the imagery of a kiss to explain several other things to us. One particular passage is fascinating. In Psalm 85, the writer details the story of believers who’ve gone astray but have turned back toward the Lord and are ready to submit to him. The psalmist vividly describes God’s character in relation to these people who are eager to glean the benefits of a restored relationship with him:

“Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. The Lord will indeed give what is good.” (Psalm 85:10, 12a)

Why did he use the word “kiss”? Maybe it’s because kisses bring two people together in a unique way like nothing else. Contact is close, intimate, personal. A kiss is full of affection and love.

The double meaning of this verse is that these qualities (and many others listed in the chapter) are melded together in God, but can also be ours when we operate “in the Lord,” when we get up close and personal with him. As we spend time with the One who loves steadfastly, is always faithful, is thoroughly righteous and who personifies peace, we take on bits of those characteristics, too.

Another interesting kiss-reference in the Bible is found in Proverbs:

“An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.” (24:26)

Both honesty and kissing feel good, and the best kind of kisses are honestly loving ones. But he’s saying that if someone can rely on us to tell the truth, the result is as good as a kiss on the lips.

God knows some of us learn best through pictures. We widows may have lost touch with husbandly kisses, but we can benefit as much as the next person from understanding the scriptural kisses of the Lord.

“Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.” (1 Peter 5:14)