Greetings

A day or two ago on the radio they were discussing greetings- what a powerful 30 seconds we have with our children and spouses, students, and coworkers every day.

"Mornin!"

"You're late."

"Do you have homework?"

"Why did you wear that shirt today?"

"I'm so happy you're here."

"We're running late, let's go."

I think you get the point- I think you already know what I am going to say.

I try to treat my husband like the king when he gets home, because well... he is the king of this castle. I squeal with joy, ramping up the excitement for our 9 month old and dog. Harley slides across the wood floors taking Brooklyn out by the knees, I catch her by the arm and we race to the back door. "Daddy is here!!!"

I hope his heart swells at the sound of our thrills. He whistles behind the door exciting the dog and intriguing our baby- we literally cannot wait for this man to open the basement door.

I kiss him hard when he walks through the door as if to say, "Where have you been all day, my love? How I have missed you!" My hand always lingers on his bicep as he reaches over to snuggle our baby and give her scruffy whisker kisses. Then- the dog licks till her heart is content and we are back to regular business.

I have been chewing on this- I have so many negative feelings towards cell phones and the constant connect-ability we can choose to have with them- often when we enter a lunch date or family time we're "just finishing this up." Then you get the, "sigh, hello." (I don't want to give a sigh hello, I want to give a smile, welcome, hug, a cheer... anything but that!) Jonathan and I are holding out on the smartphone thing (partly because we have no room in our budget but mostly, because I simply hate the idolatry of phones). To see kids sit on their phones at dinner or on a visit, for a mom to not set the phone down for 5 seconds to snuggle her babes who just walked in the house, for a dad whose ear piece is always connected to his head and can't kiss his wife because he is still "working" when he walks in the door- I have to think, are we stewarding these moments well?

Are we showing our spouses, children, and families how important they are through our greetings? (And this is just 30 seconds of our day, there are million other times that I hope we are all showing love to our loves! :) It seems like something so simple, so stupid, so small to just say "Hello," but I think it matters so much.

Believe me, I know that every day is different- the other day I had dinner up to my elbows and Jon just wasn't going to get the loving he usually does when he walks in the door- I think he forgives me. But today- I made sure to love him in those first 5 seconds because it is on my heart. It is important to me.


Is it important to you?