Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs
Through the weekly and daily devotionals you can be constantly encouraged in your great role of parenting, the highest career in the nation. You can also stay updated on what's happening with the Above Rubies ministry.
ARM YOUR HUSBAND FOR THE DAY
Dear ladies, I discovered something new this morning! It’s radical, but I love it. But you are used to my sharing radical things with you, aren’t you?At our Family Devotions this morning, my husband read Psalm 85:109: “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." These are some of the twins mentioned in the Bible. I decided to look up the word “kissed” in the Hebrew and was surprised to see the full meaning.
It is the Hebrew word “nashaq” and means “to put two mouths together” and also “to array oneself for battle, equip with weapons, armed for war.” It is identical with “nasaq” which means “to kindle a fire or become passionate.”
It lines up with two other Hebrew words:
“chashaq” which means “to love, to delight in, to desire.” And . . .
“chazaq” which means “to be strong, courageous, help, repair, conquer, encourage, to strengthen.”
Do you remember to kiss your husband before he leaves or work? I am sure you do. Not just a peck, but a loving and lingering kiss. What will this do for him?
Scientists tell us that when we kiss, we release such chemicals as dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin. We know that oxytocin is the “love hormone,” the “bliss hormone,” the “calming hormone,” and the “stress-relieving hormone” among many other names. One study said that the kiss will "buffer the individual against the physiological effects of stress."
These hormones light up the pleasure centers in our brain and give feelings of euphoria. That’s good for you as you start the day with all your stresses, but also good for your husband as he goes out to face the foe as he faithfully provides for the family.
Kissing increases your heart rate, making you more alert and ready for action.
This also lines up with God’s meaning of the kiss. Didn’t we read that it also means to arm for war? Check it out. It is the same Hebrew word for “kiss” when you read these Scriptures about going to war: 1 Chronicles 12:2, 2 Chronicles 17;17; and Psalm 78:9.
When you lovingly kiss your husband goodbye, you are arming him for the day. You are arming him for war and all the stresses he will face. YOU ARE STRENGTHENING HIM TO BE STRONG, COURAGEOUS, AND TO CONQUER! Isn’t that cool?
And did you know that kissing lowers cholesterol and heals the mind and body?
What about at the end of the day? You are tired. Your husband comes home tired. It could lead to a grouchy and unpleasant atmosphere. But just wait. Kiss one another lingeringly and passionately and the stresses of the day will dissipate.
And the more you kiss, the more you will fall in love with one another.
I love God’s ways, don’t you?
Love from Nancy Campbell
