When my children were little, I didn’t have to wonder where they were when I got home from work. They ran out to the car to greet me. The loud sounds of “daddy!” or “daddy’s home!” or “look what I did today, daddy!” or “guess what’s for supper, daddy!” filled the air. Sometimes I would sit in the car and wait for them to join me in my lap. Other times I would get out quickly and lift them up in my arms. They rushed out to greet me. Daddy’s home! Yay!!
I’m not sure when it began, but something shifted around the “tweenage” and teenage years. I didn’t notice it at first. But over time, I found that when I came home from work I wasn’t greeted by young, happy voices. I wasn’t greeted at all. Eddie would wag his tail, but that’s about it. I had to go find them. I walked up the stairs to greet them. I knocked on their doors, sat down on their beds, and asked about their day. It wasn’t that they weren’t glad I was home (at least, I hope not!). It’s just they got preoccupied with other things. Dad’s home. Yippee.
Again, I am not sure exactly when the shift happened. I wasn’t paying attention. But at some point, they stopped running out to greet me. I went in search to greet them.
If you think about it, these sorts of interactions are interesting. Telling. Revealing.
Now, when we go to visit Luke at college, he is waiting for us outside of his dorm room. When our car appears, he comes to greet us.
When Luke drives home from college, the second his car emerges onto our property, his mom and I run out to greet him (much like he did when he was little).
When my parents came to visit a couple of weeks ago, we went outside to greet them as they got out of their car.
When the family gathered at my sister’s for Thanksgiving, everyone came outside to greet us when we arrived.
Most nights (if I haven’t fallen asleep in the chair), when my youngest two get home from their part-time job, I will go outside and greet them when they pull into the driveway.
It’s rare when we wait for loved ones to actually make it to the door.
Greetings are interesting. It’s a sign of welcome. An expression of joy of another’s presence. A way of seeing and being seen. When a greeting happens it communicates, “I am glad you are here. You are welcome here. Your presence here makes me happy. This place is better with you here. I hope you know how safe you are with us.”
I’m not sure what to do with these thoughts. I just needed to get them out. I encourage you to pay attention to the greetings in and around your home. It matters that people know you’re glad they are there. If you have young children, savor every single rush to your parked car that just returned home from work. If they are teens, do what you have to do to let them know you are glad they are there.
And let’s not ever forget how the Father greets us. The real us. The parts that are lovable. The parts that are ugly. When He sees us, He doesn’t wait for us to get to Him. Oh no. My Bible says He jumps out of His rocking chair, runs down the steps of the front porch, sprints toward us, wraps His arms around us and doesn’t even attempt to hide the joy of our being home. He doesn’t ask us if we’ve good. He doesn’t ask us how sinful we have been. He is just glad we are there. We are always welcome. We are seen, known, and loved. He likes us. Our presence brings him gladness and joy. His home is better with us there. “He’s home!” Or “She’s home! Yay!!!”
We don’t have to go and greet Him. He rushes out to greet us.
I love being greeted. Don’t you?