Words of Hope: Greetings and Partings
My husband Shann and I often celebrate that we live in the Golden Age of research. We can communicate to anyone, regardless of philosophy or religion, what truly works and what does not. It’s no longer a matter of opinion, science proves what for many years was considered only opinion or faith.
For example, a positive grateful outlook was the cornerstone of NBC Camps. My dad made gratitude a bedrock of teaching at camp before anyone believed in its efficacy. Many scoffed and claimed concepts like gratitude made people weak. Thanks to the Golden Age of Research, we know that gratitude makes us stronger. The higher your level of gratitude the greater your pain tolerance, your ability to problem solve, and the stronger your immune system.
I recently have been reading research on team chemistry and how to create deeply loving teams and families. One of the big findings is the absolute importance of greetings and partings. It makes sense that teams who welcome each other with joy and delight look vastly different than teams who are passive or non-responsive when people enter the gym.
Dad was an absolute expert at greetings and partings. He would raise both hands up in the air with great joy and enthusiasm and yell a greeting of welcome. He would show full delight in seeing someone and celebrate them. “You are a miracle!” he would exclaim. Countless times he would greet someone and then proudly introduce this person with glowing and loving words to others present in the room.
When we parted, he spoke love, he expressed joy, and left me feeling glad to have been with him.
Shann and I have made greetings and partings a crucial part of our friendship. We greet each other with a hug and a kiss. We bless each other with the words, “You are my friend, you are my beloved, you are the one my soul loves,” while forming the sign of the cross as a physical blessing.
We do this with our daughters. They each have a special verse that we bless them with. We have taught our girls to whoop with delight and celebration when they greet each other. When we part ways the tears, hugs, and blessings naturally occur. This is what love looks like in a home and in a team. I am thankful Dad led the way and I look forward to that beautiful celebration when we see each other again.
Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ. – 1 Peter 5:14
