Saying Goodbye….
“Bye!”
How quickly that farewell greeting trips off the tongue to our friends and
family when we are young. Yet, that
derivative for ‘goodbye’ attains a deep emotion when it seems to be final. The wrenching of a forever goodbye twists the
heart for days on end. Life seems to
have stopped and falls into a deep black hole for days.
How quickly that farewell greeting trips off the tongue to our friends and
family when we are young. Yet, that
derivative for ‘goodbye’ attains a deep emotion when it seems to be final. The wrenching of a forever goodbye twists the
heart for days on end. Life seems to
have stopped and falls into a deep black hole for days.
Severing
friendship ties when moving to other places peppered our lives with ‘Goodbyes’,
As time goes on, the ‘Goodbyes’ become more and more difficult.
friendship ties when moving to other places peppered our lives with ‘Goodbyes’,
As time goes on, the ‘Goodbyes’ become more and more difficult.
I
counted the times I said goodbye when our children left one by one. One left through marriage, one left leaving a
list on the kitchen table – the last item said, Kiss Mom goodbye. We left one child in an empty house because
we moved away. And the last child I left
in college. Driving away, tears clouded
my vision for 10 or 15 miles. There were
blessed visits and reunions through the years but it always ended with
‘goodbyes, prayers and hugs’.
counted the times I said goodbye when our children left one by one. One left through marriage, one left leaving a
list on the kitchen table – the last item said, Kiss Mom goodbye. We left one child in an empty house because
we moved away. And the last child I left
in college. Driving away, tears clouded
my vision for 10 or 15 miles. There were
blessed visits and reunions through the years but it always ended with
‘goodbyes, prayers and hugs’.
The
forever ‘goodbyes’ came more often in our family. I found the verse…As
the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in
the field. The grass withers and
the flower fades. I
Peter 1:24
forever ‘goodbyes’ came more often in our family. I found the verse…As
the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in
the field. The grass withers and
the flower fades. I
Peter 1:24
Just as a seed dies before it grows and flowers,
God has given us a short journey on earth.
That is his purpose for his created ones. Ecclesiastes 3:11 reads, “Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see
the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”
God has given us a short journey on earth.
That is his purpose for his created ones. Ecclesiastes 3:11 reads, “Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see
the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”
I
am reminded that during that time when God knit us together, Psalm 139: 13-14,
that God planted eternity in the human heart, a desire for a ‘forever’ with
God. (You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and
knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully
complex! Your
workmanship is marvellous—how well I know it.)
am reminded that during that time when God knit us together, Psalm 139: 13-14,
that God planted eternity in the human heart, a desire for a ‘forever’ with
God. (You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and
knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully
complex! Your
workmanship is marvellous—how well I know it.)
What does that ‘forever’ consist of? The 21st Chapter, verses 10-21
tell us what Heaven is like. Verses
22-27 state: I saw no temple in the city,
for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no
need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is
its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world
will enter the city in all their glory. Its gates will never be closed at
the end of day because there is no night there. And all the nations will
bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing evil will be
allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but
only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
tell us what Heaven is like. Verses
22-27 state: I saw no temple in the city,
for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no
need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is
its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world
will enter the city in all their glory. Its gates will never be closed at
the end of day because there is no night there. And all the nations will
bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing evil will be
allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but
only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
A year or two before my Dad died, a message
floated across my mind…This is the last time you will see your Dad. Last July the same message came to me, as our
son and his wife left our home. The
message was so strong, I almost ran outside for another hug as the car took
them away. I shrugged off the ominous
message. Surely not our oldest son!
floated across my mind…This is the last time you will see your Dad. Last July the same message came to me, as our
son and his wife left our home. The
message was so strong, I almost ran outside for another hug as the car took
them away. I shrugged off the ominous
message. Surely not our oldest son!
At the end of the month I received my last phone
call from our son. Then came almost seven months that he fought brain
cancer. Then came the call that our son
had died. My heart was broken. As I remembered God’s message, I drew
hope. God cares and He loves us
all. In the sweet memories of our son
and in the remembrances at the visitation and funeral service, there lies hope.
call from our son. Then came almost seven months that he fought brain
cancer. Then came the call that our son
had died. My heart was broken. As I remembered God’s message, I drew
hope. God cares and He loves us
all. In the sweet memories of our son
and in the remembrances at the visitation and funeral service, there lies hope.
I remembered our former minister, Jack, often
included II Timothy 4:6-7 in funeral services.
For I am
already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my
departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the
race, I have kept the faith.
included II Timothy 4:6-7 in funeral services.
For I am
already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my
departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the
race, I have kept the faith.
When
there is a departure, there is a destination.
So our son’s departure from this earth means he has landed at his
destination. His twin brother, Donald,
and his grandparents were there to greet him.
Our son is loved and has found his ‘forever’. He is waiting for us, his family, to join
him.
there is a departure, there is a destination.
So our son’s departure from this earth means he has landed at his
destination. His twin brother, Donald,
and his grandparents were there to greet him.
Our son is loved and has found his ‘forever’. He is waiting for us, his family, to join
him.
To every Goodbye on this
earth, there is a Welcome Home Hello, in Heaven!
earth, there is a Welcome Home Hello, in Heaven!
Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the
roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give
him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.” Revelation 19:7
roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give
him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.” Revelation 19:7
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