This morning, before the sun came up, I drove my mother to the airport, helped her check in, shared final prayers of blessing and said goodbye. She was headed back home after nearly a week's visit with me. I came back to my apartment, climbed into bed and burst into tears.
I have been saying goodbye to my family constantly since I left home in the fall of '95 to come west to attend college. Christmases and summer vacations at home, having a parent or sibling come west to visit me - lots of good times but always ending with a hug and a departure in the driveway, at the bus depot, at the airport. Usually tears and a deep sadness.
But over the years, the scenes have tempered somewhat. With goodbyes coming so regularly, they began take on an inevitable quality. No matter how much a visit was anticipated, no matter how enjoyed it was, there was always the underlying knowledge that it would all be over soon.
I have become accustomed to taking leave of my loved ones but no matter how prepared I am, it still hurts. It can be discouraging and I have frequently lamented that "someone is always saying goodbye."
It puts me in mind of heaven - "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes: there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:4). I truly look forward to the day when the pains and disappointments of this world are passed and there are no more "goodbyes."
Until then I take comfort in the presence of Jesus. Everytime I bid a friend or family member farewell and walk into the terminal or wave from the car window, I may feel sad at the parting yet I take heart: "For He Himself has said, I will never leave you" (Hebrews 13:5).
I have been saying goodbye to my family constantly since I left home in the fall of '95 to come west to attend college. Christmases and summer vacations at home, having a parent or sibling come west to visit me - lots of good times but always ending with a hug and a departure in the driveway, at the bus depot, at the airport. Usually tears and a deep sadness.
But over the years, the scenes have tempered somewhat. With goodbyes coming so regularly, they began take on an inevitable quality. No matter how much a visit was anticipated, no matter how enjoyed it was, there was always the underlying knowledge that it would all be over soon.
I have become accustomed to taking leave of my loved ones but no matter how prepared I am, it still hurts. It can be discouraging and I have frequently lamented that "someone is always saying goodbye."
It puts me in mind of heaven - "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes: there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:4). I truly look forward to the day when the pains and disappointments of this world are passed and there are no more "goodbyes."
Until then I take comfort in the presence of Jesus. Everytime I bid a friend or family member farewell and walk into the terminal or wave from the car window, I may feel sad at the parting yet I take heart: "For He Himself has said, I will never leave you" (Hebrews 13:5).
