Ah! Kissing!! It is what makes a relationship special. When Tom kissed me for the first time I don’t remember much else but this one fact–he loved me! We reserve kisses for those whom we love the most, and this is how it should be. There are different types of kisses for different occasions.

Hollywood has made some memorable scenes involving the kiss.

• Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed in “It’s A Wonderful Life”
• Clark Gable and Vivian Leigh in “Gone With The Wind”
• Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr in “From Here To Eternity”
• Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in “Casablanca”

Six of the best kinds of kisses to help your marriage grow in intimacy:

The Greeting Kiss – When your spouse walks in the door and you make it a priority to welcome them home with a kiss, you are saying volumes to them and to your children. This kiss means I am happiest when you are home with me.

The Apology Kiss – One of the hardest kisses to give when there is still conflict swirling in the air. But did you know that making a decision to apologize and kiss your spouse makes it difficult to stay angry. Kissing is a laying down of offenses and welcoming your spouse back into your good graces. This is humility on display and the good soil in which intimacy grows.

The Celebration Kiss – Think New Year’s Eve or Birthdays. Whenever something wonderful happens you want to grab your spouse and kiss them with all your might. And if for some reason they aren’t with you on those special occasions, the void is felt. A kiss represents your oneness. Most couples when witnessing a bride and groom seal their vows with a kiss, remember their first married kiss as well. They sit and little closer and snuggle at the memory.

The Sympathetic Kiss – When life hits you hard, sometimes there are no words to express your feelings. A kiss with tears speaks volumes of how much you care. This type of kiss is a gift to the one hurting and makes your spouse feel supported and understood.

The Lingering Kiss – I love to give Tom an unexpected, lingering kiss. The kind that that tells him I want him and still find him handsome and desirable. This works well on busy days when you both have a lot happening. Taking a minute to remind them through a kiss how much they mean to you, goes a long way in motivating the rest of the day.

The Goodnight Kiss – At day’s end, your spouse is the last one you see before falling asleep. Sealing the day with a kiss says I’m glad to be doing this life with you, for you make it worth the effort. A kiss before sleep also informs your dreams of who has your heart whether you’re awake or asleep.

How well do you and your spouse kiss? Take the kissing challenge during the next week and pay attention to how well you kiss. Better yet, don’t tell your spouse. Just let them be the recipient of your affection and watch the effect it has on them.

“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine;”

Song of Solomon 1:2 ESV