Thinking on goodbyes

I have been thinking a lot about goodbyes lately.  As humans, we say goodbye to people all the time.  Last week I told my kindergartners goodbye without much chance of seeing them again.  On Monday I said goodbye to a college friend with plans to see her again in a few weeks.  I said goodbye to my sister Shelby who is in London, we probably won't get the chance to skype again until she is back home.  I said goodbye to Michael yesterday before coming down to Iowa for the rest of the week.  Goodbyes are interesting...some are before long times apart, some for short, and some are for forever.  Sometimes you don't think about your goodbyes at all, while other times you spend a lot of time preparing for it.  Goodbyes can be forgetful or memorable.  Usually the memorable ones are the ones that are more emotional...two of my most memorable goodbyes were with people I loved.

The first was with Michael during the summer of 2011.  We were engaged, but were not spending our summer together.  He had come to visit me and camp and when he was leaving I was so sad to see him go.  I knew I was going to miss him a lot in the next few weeks and it brought a lot of tears.  That was a goodbye where I was planning to see him again in 2 or 3 weeks.

The other really memorable goodbye that is on my mind right now was my last goodbye to Grandpa Butch.  It was one we had been preparing for, but I hadn't planned out what I wanted to say.  In truth I don't remember much about what I said, but I remember him and what I felt and how hard it was to walk away.

Goodbyes can be painless or painful.  Often when we are in pain we turn to God and ask why it has to be this way.  We can get bitter or hardhearted, but that really isn't looking at Christ in the right light.  When we feel we are suffering and turn to Jesus, we should remember the pain he suffered for us so that we never have to say goodbye to him.  What love...to suffer so much in order to conquer death and safe sinners for himself.  Easter was over a week ago, but the truth remains that we have nothing if we don't have Jesus.  He didn't simply save sinners for life in Heaven, but for real life now.  My heart swells with love and thankfulness when I consider the grace and love He has shown to me.  Life can be hard with goodbyes and loneliness, but as a saint saved by God's sweet grace I never have to be alone.

Jesus, what a Friend for sinners!

Jesus, Lover of my soul;

Friends may fail me, foes assail me,

He, my Savior, makes me whole.

Refrain:

Hallelujah! what a Savior!

Hallelujah! what a Friend!

Saving, helping, keeping, loving,

He is with me to the end.

Jesus, what a Strength in weakness!

Let me hide myself in Him.

Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,

He, my Strength, my victory wins.

Jesus, what a Help in sorrow!

While the billows over me roll,

Even when my heart is breaking,

He, my Comfort, helps my soul.