Good Morning! Hola! Bonjour! Bel Bonjou!

Around the world, people greet one another in distinctly different ways. Depending on where you are from, a hug, kisses on the cheeks, a bounce of the hand, a high five, raising the head, bowing the head, or a smile are all acceptable forms of greeting.

However, since COVID-19, social distancing, and mask wearing, greetings have changed. “Interpersonal communication has been severely affected. . . . Face masks . . . muffle sounds and cover facial expressions that ease comprehension during live communication.” What is a greeting? It is a courtesy performed with a loving attitude that welcomes someone or acknowledges their presence.

And it can be more than this! One morning, I entered a prison to visit an inmate. The prison officer greeted me and then abruptly stated, “I know you.” I politely replied, “There is a mistake, ma’am.” “Yes, yes,” she replied, “you greeted me in the corridor of the school. By the way, I heard the chaplains gave out devotional books, but I did not receive mine. How can I get one?” I gladly took her name, and the following week she received the Women’s Ministries 2022 devotional book. A courteous greeting introduced the way to share the devotional book! Our days are full, and our minds are busy processing all the tasks we need to complete.

Send the emails, buy groceries, hurry home to avoid traffic, cook supper, help the children with their homework, clean, and rush to prepare Sabbath lunch.

From childhood, we are taught to greet one another, but sometimes, we are too busy to appreciate the presence of the person next to us.

However, by taking the time to greet someone, we can transform a frown into a genuine smile, which can lead to the start of a meaningful friendship.

A warm greeting can help someone who feels lonely, brighten the day of a student who did not want to attend class, or open the door for sharing the gospel.

Even when no one acknowledges your greeting, presence, or smile, Jesus takes note of your kindness, my friend. Today, greet one another with a smile, the wave of a hand, or in the way you feel most comfortable—and look for something good to happen!

Nahomie Daubé