A sermon preached at Southminster Presbyterian Church of Prairie Village, Kansas. September 8, 2013.

John 15:12-17
and Philippians 1:3-11

It was a weeknight in late October of 2010

and we were almost through

with Nora and Tessa’s bedtime routine.

Teeth had been brushed. Pajamas were on. Books had been read.

One last playtime for the night,

and now it was time to say our parting words

turn the lights off and go to bed.

 We had been trying to prepare the girls for a few days

that their daddy would be leaving the next morning for Guatemala

as part of our Presbytery’s delegation

to our friends in the Maya Quiche presbytery

in Quetzaltenango.

But they were four,

and they had no real concept of where Guatemala was

all they knew was that I was going on an airplane

for a whole week!

 I had been away on trips many times,

and sometimes even for a whole week

but when you add an airplane to the mix

it’s a completely different deal.

 So I lingered a bit on our bedtime routine, as I tucked in my daughters

and kissed their foreheads

and we sang them their good night song,

when my daughter stopped me with a smile.

Daddy, she said, Give me your hand.

 And so I dutifully gave her my hand, which she took, gently,

and brought it up to her lips.

And she kissed my palm with a loud smack.

Put it up on your cheek, she instructed. And I did.

There. Now you hold my kiss in your heart.

 When you go on the airplane, and when you miss me

                        just put your hand on your cheek and you’ll feel my kiss.

And she had me kiss her hand, too,

whereupon she put it on her cheek with a satisfied smile

and she turned over to go off to bed. [Read more…]