Want My Dog?
I had run downstairs to grab something from the trunk of my car. As I opened the trunk, a middle-aged woman walked by on the sidewalk. I glanced over, gave a quick smile, said hello, and then proceeded to grab whatever it was I needed from the trunk.
A few moments later the woman stopped and turned around. She looked worried. "You wouldn't happen to be interested in adopting a dog, would you?" she asked hesitantly.
I told her that unfortunately I was not.
She sighed. Then she began to explain. She owned a dog, but she wasn't going to be able to keep him much longer. (She didn't explain why - maybe she was moving into an apartment building that didn’t allow pets?) She loved her dog, and she was looking for an owner that she could trust to take good care of him.
As I walked back upstairs, I wondered why she had asked me to take care of her dog. It was clear that she was not willing to entrust her pet to just anyone. I was a complete stranger. Why had she asked me?
When I got to the top of the stairs, I think I figured it out: it was because I had greeted her.
You see, here in New York City, people rarely, if ever, smile at other people on the sidewalk. New Yorkers pass by other New Yorkers as if they weren't even there. I think that woman had noticed that I had smiled and said hello - a gesture she was unaccustomed to receiving from a stranger - and because of that she had inadvertently developed hope that I might be a good guardian for her pet.
Matthew 24:12
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
And while it is true - New Yorkers’ hearts and manners can oftentimes grow cold - we as Christians need to careful not to fall into the bad habit. You see, sometimes, if we’re not intentional, we can fall into the whole “church routine.” We show up to church, see the same faces, sit down in the same sit, sing a few songs, listen to a sermon, and then say goodbye. There’s little enthusiasm, little joy, little sincerity, about seeing our brothers and sisters in Christ.
1 Peter 5:14
Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
2 Corinthians 13:12
Greet one another with an holy kiss.
1 Thessalonians 5:26
Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
People often wonder - what exactly is a “kiss of charity” or “holy kiss?” If I were to guess, it’s probably something similar to what they do in European or Hispanic cultures, where two people hug each other and touch cheek to cheek. So basically, what are these three verses teaching us to do? When you greet one another, give each other a hug.
The world may be growing colder with each passing day. But praise the Lord, those of us in God’s house can still retain our love. We can still do exactly what the bible tells us to do: “greet ye one another with a kiss of charity.” There’s something special about giving your brother in Christ a good, old-fashioned hug and saying, “It’s great to see you, brother!”
1 Peter 4:8
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
