About Her Father's Business

With that assurance of a welcome, I told Stan that my affectionate nature was too strong to feel comfortable for days among his clan, if they didn’t loosen up and think of me as “part of the family” and start touching each other again.  He said, with all seriousness, that last night was perfectly “normal” for their household.  His dad had always showed firm discipline, and with Stan remaining in the military, it certainly had not taught him to display his caring feelings to his wife and children over the years.  So, with Stan’s permission (and a silent prayer to the Lord to help me be tactful, yet brash enough – Phil. 4:13), he said I could show his family some of the benefits of being a healthy, affectionate unit.

The first opportunity to “step out in boldness” (Eph. 6:19) came as we entered the front door.  The wife and kids were sitting on sofas and she “clucked” her sympathy over my car’s dilemma, but only gave a glance of greeting to her husband and stayed seated.  So, with a wide grin I walked over in front of her, reached down and took her by the arm, pulling her to her feet, and propelled the gal toward her husband.  Laughingly, I said, “Noble woman of the household, arise and kiss thy good husband!  For he has returned to the hearth, after successfully rescuing a “damsel in distress,” and well deserves the reward of knowing you welcome him home!”  (Oh dear, the shocked reaction from everyone in the room was priceless!)  As that sweet-natured wife recovered, she turned towards her man.  Stan was smiling down at her with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, as his wife stood close, looking up at him like a sheepish schoolgirl.  By now, their teens were all smiling and “tee-heeing” behind their hands.  Well, the wife leans up and gives her husband a quick peck on the cheek, but does that polite, almost motherly display of affection satisfy me?  No way, Jose’!  So, before the wife can back away, I tell her that kiss was “a good start… as an hor’dourve.”  And although I wasn’t suggesting that she give her man a full course meal, right there in front of their children, didn’t she think he, at least, merited a little more “meat and potatoes”?  Here, let me explain …

You see, dear, your very own ‘Beloved’ has just walked in the door!  You are so pleased to see him that you, immediately, “get off your duff” and with a smile of welcome and arms outstretched, do a comfy snuggle-bunny up to his side, under his strong “arm of protection.”  THEN, you give him a healthy ‘smooch’, on those pleasantly and conveniently located protrusions, under the nose and above the chin, which God gave each of us to use for more than just eating!  You know, a ‘peck’ and a real kiss feel and sound a lot different.  One is rather dry and sterile.  Ah!  But, the other is warm and pliable and needs to be resolutely planted on the lips.  The young folks were now rolling with laughter, so I told them to help me with the ‘sound effects’.  “Come on, kids!  Let’s make some ‘kissy-face’ noises to help re-teach your parents something they seem to have forgotten back in their teen years.”  So, as the teens loudly and enthusiastically comply, their pink-faced yet, good-natured folks plant a resounding “smack” on each other!  Then, with both of them grinning widely, Stan kept his arm draped over his wife’s shoulders, as we all applaud and “whoop” our absolute approval!

Thus set the ever-comical tone of lessons teaching each member of that family the joys and benefits of learning to be comfortable in giving wholesome, affectionate touches.  They had all been silently suffering with the need for physical human contact, but none of them had an inkling of how to change their situation or even that the others were feeling deprived as well.  And, by the way, the

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