"Love Makes Good Impressions"

“Love makes good impressions” examines a slightly different theme — one about greetings. A greeting provides an opportunity to show our feelings and respect for someone. 1 Peter 5:14 provides good context: “Greet one another with a kiss of love.” Pastor Kirk’s recent sermon mentioned how this was a common practice in the early church. We recognize the significance of a first impression, so how we greet someone will set the stage for what follows.

The way a couple greets each other tells a lot about the current state of their marriage. What do you and your spouse reveal about your relationship through your greetings? Is it caring? Does it make your spouse look forward to seeing you? Some people avoid warm greetings, claiming they don’t want to be insincere. But there are reasons to make a good impression. Anyone can speak kindly to people they like, but Christians are to treat our enemies this way. Furthermore, we are to be kind to others even when we don’t feel that way.

If we cheerfully greet friends, coworkers, neighbors and even those we don’t like, shouldn’t we do this all the more for our spouse? Think about the difference of greeting them in a way that conveys, “You are priceless to me” as opposed to “You are tolerated by me.” Contemplate how your spouse would feel if you expressed that you were truly glad to see and be with them. A good greeting sets the stage for positive interactions. It puts wind in their sails.

An excellent biblical example is the story of the prodigal son. The last thing the son expected upon his return was to be greeted warmly by his father. What kind of greeting would cause your spouse to feel that way? Pay attention not only to the words you choose, but also your tone of voice and body language. Perhaps it may even include a kiss, hug or an affectionate touch. In addition, look for opportunities to greet your spouse throughout the day. It doesn’t always have to be elaborate — just a simple, yet genuine expression of your caring can make a big difference.

I suspect most of us, myself included, don’t always pay attention as to how we greet others. The Kendricks end this chapter by asking if you do it well and whether your spouse feels loved and appreciated by it. Even when things are tough, you can improve the situation with a kind greeting. Remember, love is a choice. So choose to greet them at “Hello!”

God bless and see you next week.

Fred