Cheeks

Blessed are You,
Lord our God,
King of the Universe,
for the communion of cheeks,
for the wonder of my daughter
pressing her cheek to mine,
holiness that swells my heart.

Blessed are You for creating
what we instinctively hold to our cheeks—
puppies and chicks,
a fuzzy peach,
faces we love,
soft things,
a cool glass of water.

Blessed are You,
Lord our God,
King of the Universe,
for giving us courage
to turn a cheek
toward the things that scare us,
inviting them into shared holiness.