Linking up with The Gypsy Mama:

“Around here we write for five minutes flat on Fridays. We write because we love words and the relief it is to just write them without worrying if they’re just right or not. So we take five minutes on Friday and write like we used to finger paint. For joy in the process. No matter how messy the result.”

Today’s topic: GOODBYE

GO.

It never seems to come without being accompanied by a hello, the goodbye. Goodbyes can be hard, and for many I know it’s painful. But it’s not like that for me. While there is temporary sadness in the moment of the goodbye, the excitement of what awaits on the other side of hello keeps me from giving way to sadness and mourning.

Maybe because the goodbyes have been so many. Maybe I’ve become immune. Goodbye to friends, to family, to relationships. To homes and cities and jobs. To habits and dreams and hopes. But maybe too, because I trust God enough to know that He doesn’t call me away or the sake of being away. But rather for the sake of calling me into. And the anticipation of the into…that’s the exciting part.

God called the Israelites out of Egypt, yes…but He was calling them into the Promised Land. Ruth said goodbye to her homeland and hello to a new husband. Job said goodbye to all he had and hello to a double portion of everything. Mary said goodbye to her reputation and hello to the Son of God. Jesus said goodbye to His sinlessness to say hello to us — face-to-face for all of eternity.

And so, when the goodbyes come, I give way to sadness for a moment. I hug hard and remember the blessings. But then I close the door and turn and walk expectantly towards hello as He bids me come.

“But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?” (Isaiah 43:18-19)

Hello. Sweet, sweet hello.

STOP.