Put ‘er there, pardner! With that old statement, a simple handshake was requested and exchanged. Since 2005, National Handshake Day was established by Miryam Roddy on behalf of BRODY Professional Development. “This gesture is key to first impressions & relationships,” says Roddy regarding handshakes.1
And, in 2020, the handshake was sadly replaced with a fist bump. NOT the same! It’s okay with kids and athletes might do it on the field. But something seems off and peculiar when adults are doing it with each other. You automatically feel dirty because the other person doesn’t want to be touched.
First impressions are lasting impressions. It’s easy to remember someone based on a description of the handshake. For instance, there are those who pump your hand like it’s the handle on an old water pump and they are trying to get a stream flowing.
Another person grasps your hand, gives it a 45-degree twist, and pulls you into his personal space.
A couple of individuals have left the memory of the limpest, pudgiest handshakes I’ve ever experienced. We often call this the dead fish.
The opposite of this is the person who wants to prove they are as strong as a bull. They grip your hand like a tourniquet! Bones and joints crackle like a bowl full of Rice Krispies!
Then, there’s the patter. They take your hand in theirs, then wrap their free hand over the top, patting or rubbing the whole time. Hey, it’s not a magic lamp! A genie isn’t going to pop out! And they won’t let go! It makes you feel extremely uncomfortable because they are enjoying holding hands with you, but you aren’t relishing the moment!
The handshake, when it is rendered appropriately, is a simple gesture that conveys welcome, friendship, support, encouragement, and a whole lot more. In some cultures, centuries ago, this action would have been similar to inviting you to frisk them. The handshake was more of a forearm grasping. You could easily tell if someone had a weapon up their sleeve.
The Scriptures are relatively silent on the topic. However, one thing we do in church is to extend the right hand of fellowship. Galatians 2:9 says, “And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.”
Of this practice, Got Questions Ministries writes, “As part of the process of welcoming new members into a local congregation, the “right hand of fellowship” is extended to a person who has expressed faith in Christ, has been baptized (or soon will be), or has expressed interest in church membership. This person is publicly recognized during a church worship service, and after the service existing members shake hands with him or her. The handshakes are part welcome, part congratulations, and part esprit de corps.”2
This physical contact with another individual conveys warmth and acceptance. It seems that we were created for that interpersonal connection with others. As we go 
through life, reaching out and touching someone with that gracious gesture might be just what they needed to know someone loves and cares for them.
Jesus set the example. In His touch, love was conveyed. He wasn’t afraid to touch the leper and the woman with an issue of blood wasn’t afraid to touch Him, even though it was a severe breach of protocol. Let’s not be afraid of germs that would keep us from shaking hands and conveying that tender touch.
I leave you with these words in Mark 6:56, “And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.”
1https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/national-handshake-day-last-thursday-in-june
2https://www.gotquestions.org/right-hand-of-fellowship.html
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