Today, according to news reports, is National High Five Day.  Typically held on the third Thursday of April, this day recognizes how this unique hand gesture is used to otherwise greet, congratulate or celebrate.  A high five, you may know, is accomplished by pushing, sliding, or slapping the flat of one palm against the palm of another person.

The social distancing, non-contact mode of the current worldwide pandemic does not lend itself to the giving or receiving of celebratory palm-slaps.  So I thought a virtual one might be in order.  Better yet, how about a virtual Yowza?

Three years ago, one of my grandsons introduced me to a variation of a high five, something he called a “Yowza.”  He explained that we needed to hold up our hands and slap them together, palm to palm.   Thinking this sounded and felt very much like a high five, my momentary confusion lasted only seconds.  I was immediately admonished.  “No, Poppy, that is just a high five.  To do a Yowza, you need to slap a little harder and then shake your hand and shout YOWZA!”  To which he proceeded to demonstrate by giving me a rather energetic high five, followed by bellowing out a gleeful “Yowza” and a vigorous shaking of his just-slapped hand as if we had just done something amazing. Either that, or he was acting like he wanted to shake off a handful of yellow jackets.

Definitions vary, but I soon confirmed that Yowza is indeed a positive expression of joy, excitement, or surprise.  So when I discovered today was National High Five Day, I immediately thought of that Bible verse from Psalm 118:24, “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”  Now, there is nothing wrong with offering each other a high five from time to time.  But my Grandson might have a different response to hearing Psalm 118:24.  “Poppy, that means every day should be a Yowza Day.”

I couldn’t agree more.  It matters not that we are in the midst of a worldwide crisis.  This pandemic is a sobering reminder that every day is a gift. Circumstances should not dictate our happiness or contentment.  Take a closer look at the Psalm 118 passage. The biblical admonition to rejoice mentioned only one cause…This is the day the Lord has made….”

I wonder if “Yowza” is Greek or Hebrew for “rejoice and be glad?”

Wishing you and yours a Yowza day every day!

 

Note: Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash.com