Keys to the Kingdom

By Carolyn Tucker

As a youngster, my son was very fond of dill pickles. Aaron is now in his 30s and he still loves dill pickles. As a little boy, he would come in from romping and playing outside and I’d grab him, set him on my lap and kiss his rambunctious cottontop head. And it would smell like dill pickles. If I climbed on a ladder and sniffed his head today, it would probably still smell like dill pickles. They say you are what you eat. So I suppose my head  smells like chocolate.

My friend Ruby loves God and loves people. And this lifestyle she has chosen makes her very easy to love in return. When I’m in her presence and we’re saying our good-byes, she will lean forward with a big smile and a twinkle in her eyes and kiss my cheek. I know what’s coming, so I stand there, close my eyes and gratefully receive her kiss of Christian friendship. Believe me, I know that one little act of kindness will fill up a love tank for several days. A friendship kiss is not all that common in today’s cultural practice, but I grew up in a demonstrative family of huggers, kissers, laughers…and weepers. I understand and appreciate genuine outward expressions of the heart.

What’s in a kiss? Judas Iscariot kissed Jesus and it meant nothing more than betrayal. But when a former prostitute kissed Jesus’ feet it showed her gratitude, love, and adoration for Him. Outward expression comes from the inward heart. Four times in the New Testament, the apostle Paul teaches the importance of expressing earnest heartfelt affection. We would do well to understand that a repeated teaching is always important and shouldn’t be blown off. “All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss” (1 Corinthians 16:20 NKJV). “Greet one another with a holy kiss” (2 Corinthians 13:12 NKJV). “Greet each other in Christian love” (Romans 16:16 NLT). “Greet all the brethren with a sacred kiss” (1 Thessalonians 5:26 AMP). And then Peter jumps on the bandwagon and writes, “Greet one another with a kiss of peace” (1 Peter 5:14 TPT).

The resurrected Savior told Peter that his mission would be to strengthen the faith of believers. So Peter preached and wrote to Christ followers encouraging them to remain faithful to God and to love others. “Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and He will bless you for it” (1 Peter 3:8-9 NLT). For believers who say, “I don’t know what God wants me to do,” then “here’s your sign” straight from the bold lips of Peter.

It’s clear that God wants His children to practice genuine Christian  affection. We should seek to grow in our love for others because we belong to the Father of Love. We’re to take the kiss of the world and sanctify it, make it holy, and devote it to God. We are including God in our hearts when we greet one another with a kiss, hug, fist bump, high five, hand shake, or touch on the shoulder. Just choose the tool of love that suits you and lay it on people. When we express Christ-like affection for one another, our hearts are literally  saying, “You are precious to me and I value our relationship.” What a difference we could make if we would only break our rusty cage and run in the power of love.

The Key: Do something, don’t just stand there like a cow looking at a new gate!

Don’t let the wise brag of their wisdom. Don’t let heroes brag of their exploits. Don’t let the rich brag of their riches. Jeremiah 9:23 (MSG)

Dave and I were in the Las Vegas airport, standing in line to board our flight, when a fellow passenger noticed Dave’s name on his carry-on luggage label.  Not quietly, he exclaimed, “You aren’t the Dave LaRoche who pitched for the Indians, are you?”  This fan did not need a bull horn.  My husband made the mistake of nodding.

The man could not contain his excitement, excitement he decided to share with his friend who was standing a good 10-feet away.  “Jim, you aren’t going to believe this,” he yelled.  “This is Dave LaRoche!!!  Come on over and meet him.”  I turned my back and struck up a conversation with the young couple in front of me who by now had pivoted to see what the commotion was all about.  “So, how about those Chiefs!” I said.  They, like many in line, were far too young to have heard of Dave.  This was more of an annoyance than a reason to celebrate.

Dave, clearly embarrassed, answered quietly the questions of the man with the 60-foot voice. “Who was the best pitcher you ever saw?”  “When did you retire?”  “Who was the best hitter you faced?”  “How hard did you throw?”  The security line could not move fast enough.

One of my husband’s greatest strengths is his humility, and it was that quality he instilled in all of our children.  No home run was ever hit when our sons or daughters raised their fists as they ran around the bases.  None of them pumped their arms in order to get the fans to clap louder for them.  The most acknowledgement I ever saw from them was a tip of their ball cap following a standing ovation for something they did on the field. As Dave always said, “Act like you’ve done this before.”

Rick Warren defined this principle: “Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself. It’s thinking of yourself less.”  Let’s face it.  Self-exaltation impresses no one, yet it seems that social media has given us a platform to boast about our strengths or accomplishments.  Recently, a friend shared a series of pictures a mutual acquaintance posted on Facebook, each an elegant dinner she had prepared for her and her husband.  Every time the couple go to a classy restaurant, a picture of the meal is shared.  But what does that do for those who will never be able to afford such a fine-dining experience?

Saint Augustine had great advice: “Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.”

On a flight years ago when Dave was coaching professional baseball, I was seated next to a man who talked about himself, basically from the time we took our seats to the time we deplaned.  He was a stuntman in Hollywood who was a daredevil like no other…at least, according to him.  Dave was seated next to me and heard every word of the man’s braggadocious exploits.  As we walked off the jetway, the man asked Dave what he did for a living. Dave said that he was a coach, and the bragger commented, “Oh, at a high school?”  Dave’s answer, “No,  in major league baseball,” left the man stunned.  “Why didn’t you say so?”

My answer, “Because he never talks about himself” hopefully left the man with something to think about.  Of course, my husband thought it was unnecessary for me to say that.

I should have predicted that.