From the time I was 7, I dreamed of having a little boy. I was raised without my biological father and no one in my family really looked like me. To have a son may have been a selfish desire, but nonetheless it was a dream that never faded.

The time finally came when I was married and a child was on the way. Nesting was in full effect—we had the front door off, the floors redone, and most of the house painted. It was crazy, yet the preparations for this impending arrival were necessary. One night we drove forever to get just the right changing table. It was an adventure and I played along.

All of the prep for our son was intense but it was nothing compared to when he actually came. Like all babies, he required tremendous attention but I was happy to care for him because in him I saw myself. I loved holding him, talking to him, smiling at him, taking him in the stroller, even trying to sing to him. I was living this 30-year-old dream—yet somehow, I was still waiting for one special moment.

When you give love, the natural desire is to receive that love back, but sometimes you wait and it never comes. All this love I was giving my son was being received, with no reciprocation as far as I could tell.

One day my son and I were by ourselves on the couch watching the British Open. Coverage had finished for the day and my son, with his pure sweetness, got on my lap. With his two little hands he grasped my cheeks and kissed me. He was 18 months old. All of the love I had given him was returned in one act of love. My heart leaped and I was on cloud nine. I was so happy.

Like a loving parent, God is waiting for that kiss from us. Not an obligatory kiss, but a heartfelt one. He created us wonderfully, has been watching our every move from the second we were created. He made us for a specific purpose and longs to have our hands take hold of His cheeks and kiss Him with our own effort, our own desire, and our own love.

He is patient, a perfect gentleman, not forcing Himself upon us—but waiting for this splendid moment when we turn to Him and begin to love Him.

“And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.”
Luke 15:20 ESV