Say Hi From Me
Every day my mother would call out the same thing…
Reference: “All the brothers and sisters here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.” 1 Corinthians 16:20 NIV
Explore: Every day as I headed out the door to primary school my mother would call out the same thing:
“Say hi to Mr Snell for me.”
Well, that’s what she called out for all of grade 5 and 6. In the lower grades she would substitute “Mr Snell” for my current teacher.
“Say hi to Mrs Gristede.”
“Say hi to Mrs Denny.”
“Say hi to Miss Broadway…” and on it went.
Although she told me to do this every day, I would never do it.
When I got to grade six I finally turned around to mum and said, “Mum, I’m not going to say hi to Mr Snell for you.”
“Why not?” She asked with a smirk.
“How embarrassing! What do you expect me to say: oh by the way Mr Snell, my mother says hi?”
“Sure, why not?” said mum.
I just huffed in my pre-teen fashion and informed her in no uncertain terms that I would never do it.
The crazy thing is that I now find myself doing the same thing! And I now know where my mum was coming from.
It’s not that I expect my child to actually say hello to their teacher or daycare worker (although that would be fine) but it’s a way of acknowledging the people who will be caring for our loved ones. It’s almost a handing over ritual as you give authority over to the next adult caring for your child.
I don’t think quite so deeply about it on a daily basis, but it’s a way for me to greet and keep in mind those caring for my loved ones.
Application: When Paul was writing to the church in Corinth he said that all those in his current church sent their greetings. Now, there were no doubt people they had never met before but that didn’t mean their greetings were not genuine.
When we send our greetings it’s a way of acknowledging another in our thoughts. I even find this in simple prayer.
By acknowledging someone in your thoughts it’s like holding them up to God. Prayers can be as simple as that.
We don’t write letters so much these days, but it’s good to still acknowledge people in our thoughts. As a way of mentioning them in prayer we’re also keeping them at the forefront of our own minds.
Prayer: Lord, we acknowledge the people who we will meet in our day today. May my presence be a blessing to them and may they know they are loved by You. Amen.
Who can you acknowledge in prayer today?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.