Saying Goodbye.....

Today....I'm thinking about saying goodbye....

Oh, how I dislike it!  Is there anyone who enjoys saying goodbye?  Even when the goodbyes ARE ACTUALLY GOOD.....I still don't like them.... For instance.....

I spent last weekend with my daughter and her husband.  I really miss my girl....but we had a great weekend.... I'm certain I will see them again...sometime, somewhere....I had a wonderful time, but I WANTED to get home to my husband, I was looking forward to sleeping in my own bed....but I still cried when I said, "goodbye" at the airport....

When the great staff at faith4life Dallas surprised me with a lovely "going away" lunch...I cried.  I was leaving on good terms, I was leaving to follow my husband, I wasn't leaving for any "sad" reason...why did I cry?

Two years ago, as my son and his family were preparing to move from Michigan to Dallas, he posted a video of him and his eldest daughter singing "Saying Goodbye" from Muppets Take Manhattan (a Classic!).  Here are a few lines from that song that touched me:

Saying goodbye
Why is it sad?
Makes us remember the good times we've had
Much more to say
Foolish to try
It's time for saying goodbye

Saying goodbye is a time to remember the good times you've had, but why cry over good times you've had?  I've often asked myself that question......

I remember when I was moving out of my very first house...it was tiny, it wasn't in the greatest neighborhood, it was sort of a "bare bones" house.  I was moving with my family into a lovely 5 bedroom house with a pool.... a dream come true!  I was so blessed and excited about that move!!!!

Yet.....when I walked into that tiny, empty house for the last time......of course, you guessed it....
I cried!  WHY?  I was remembering the good times we had in that house...bringing the babies home from the hospital, the family gatherings, the friends who would often stop by....

Can anyone relate????

The question to ponder is this:
Do tears shed in "goodbyes" stem from sadness that you'll never have good times again ....or... from deep, sincere gratitude for those wonderful times?

And then, there are final goodbyes to deal with.....

When my brother moved to heaven about 6 months ago, I cried....  He is gone from this earth.... although I know I will see him again, it was painful to say, "goodbye."

My Facebook feed has been filled with posts this week about loved ones who have had to say their final goodbyes (on this earth)....so many in the last week.....

My heart goes out to every person who is dealing with saying goodbye...... My prayer is that along with the tears of sadness (that will come) you will ALSO  recognize tears of deep, sincere gratitude for the good times, the special words, the precious moments, and  the wonderful memories that no one can ever take away.....and that those tears will soon turn to peace that passes all understanding.....

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.....Philippians 4:7

As that peace begins to take root in your heart and in your mind, may it give way to joy....not disrespect or frivolity.....but joy from sincere thankfulness for the good times, the special words, the precious moments, and the wonderful memories that no one can ever take away!

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning...Psalm 30:5

If you're one who is saying goodbye to a loved one, I am praying for you......really....

You will make it through this time of transition.

May your tears of sadness turn to tears of thankfulness as the days go by....and finally,  to joy in knowing that this life, as wonderful as it is, is very short...even if one lives to be 100 years old....what is that....compared to eternity?

Much more to say
Foolish to try
It's time for saying goodbye.....

God bless you...do something today to fulfill your purpose....I'll blog ya next week.....