HE WAS A NONAGENARIAN, THAT IS, AN ELDERLY MAN IN HIS 90s. Each time I passed by his big house and saw him relaxing on his outdoor recliner, I would take time to greet him. It had been my manner for years to greet people heartily, ever before I moved to the new neighborhood where the elderly man lived.
On a particular day, I passed by again, saw him resting outside and took my time to greet him as usual. After the greetings, he said, “My Son, please, come.” I went to him. Then he said, “My Son, I like the way you greet. Infact, if these were the olden days, sincerely speaking, I would have given you a wife. Yes, I would have given you a wife for real! This was the practice in those days. But the times have changed.” I smiled, appreciated his kind gesture and left. But I have never forgotten that unique encounter: a rich old man nearly gave me A WIFE because I always took time to greet!
There are Marriages in which one Spouse is averse to greetings. Such Spouses wake up in the morning and never think it necessary to greet their Spouse. This isn’t right. In some marriages it’s even worse because the Spouse who wouldn’t greet also has the penchant for refusing to respond to greetings from their well mannered and courteous Mate who still takes time to greet despite not being greeted. When the nice partner greets and gets snubbed, he/she tells the unresponsive Mate. “Angel, it’s you I’m greeting. Good morning!” Instead of accepting the greeting and reciprocating, the rude “Angel” roars: “Leave me alone! Must you greet me? Can’t you do without greetings? Every time greeting, greeting. We’ve just finished morning Devotion. Please, let me have my peace!”
Some would advise the Spouse who greets to forget about greeting; perhaps the rude “Angel” is allergic to them.
However, in normal life and relationships, greetings are important; not to talk of a covenant life-long relationship like Marriage; where the Spouses are ONE FLESH.
When the Angel from Heaven appeared to Mary to tell her about her coming conception what was the first thing he did? He greeted her by saying: “HAIL, MARY!”
When military officers sight a senior officer, what do they do, even when in mufti? They salute. That’s the military greeting.
When you run into an old school mate of yours in the banking hall, what do you do? You’re excited and you wave and say, “Hello!!” That’s a greeting. You then go on to ask after their welfare and that of their family, even though you’re in an hurry.
In some of his Epistles, St. Paul commanded the Brethren to greet one another with a holy kiss:
“Salute one another with an holy kiss.”(Romans 16:16a; KJV)
“Greet one another with a holy kiss.”(Romans 16: 16a; AMP)
Greeting is crucial in any relationship, most especially in Marriage; which is the highest love relationship in life.
Even in the primary school, as the teacher walks into the classroom, all the pupils would stand up and chorus: “GOOD MORNING, SIR!” They would do the same thing when the colleagues of their Teacher come over to see him in their class.
There are no reasons or tenable excuses for not greeting your Spouse except of course if you’re keeping malice with them. But if you’re a true child of God would you keep malice?
Greetings never converts into cash to be spent in buying valuables but truth be told: they are more valuable in building up, consolidating and strengthening your marriage than money can ever do.
Just as we saw with “Rude Angel” earlier in this Devotional piece, refusing to greet and rejecting greetings from your Spouse easily give you away as ill-mannered and not properly brought up by your parents.
When you wake up in the morning greet your Spouse and do so respectfully and with all your heart.
When you both meet at home in evening after the day’s work, don’t just walk into the bedroom to undress, eat your lunch and have your siesta. No! First take time to greet your Spouse again. Some would say, “But we greeted in the morning; isn’t that enough? Is greeting food?” Yes, greeting is one of the foods of LOVE. It nourishes, sustains and freshens love. It creates cordiality, harmony and helps to keep your hearts open to each other.
Apart from telling Believers to greet one another with a Holy Kiss, Paul also took time to greet people in some of his Epistles. Even though his purpose of writing the Epistles wasn’t to greet, yet he saw it necessary to greet after giving the message of the Lord. Here are some instances:
“Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
6 Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
8 Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.
9 Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.
10 Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus’ household.” (Romans 16: 3,5-10)
Greeting isn’t just good and important, it’s a part of the godly life. As Spouses, let greeting each other be a constant part of your daily life.
You can Greet in several ways. You can greet by words, by kisses, by embraces and by hugs.
If your Spouse comes from a family where they have a special traditional greeting name for members of their clan, use it once in awhile to greet your Spouse. It adds to the sweetness, cordiality and harmony in your Marriage and family.
🔥🔥🔥 FAITH DECREE:
🔥LET WHATEVER MAKES ANY SPOUSE TOO POMPOUS TO GREET THEIR MATE BE DESTROYED FROM THEIR LIFE RIGHT NOW, IN JESUS’ MIGHTY NAME!!!
🍷🍗 TAKE-HOME LESSON: GREETINGS ARE IMPORTANT IN YOUR MARRIAGE AND LOVE LIFE AS A COUPLE.
GREET ONE ANOTHER IN WORDS AND ROMANTICALLY!
💕❤️ TONIGHT’S ONE FLESH ASSIGNMENT IN THE BEDROOM
Tonight, you’re going to spend at least TEN MINUTES to greet each other romantically: with kisses, hugs, embraces and caresses!
🎼🎶🎻🪗🎶🎼
ANOINTED MUSIC SECTION