How do you say goodbye?

Numbers 6:24-26

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

How do you say goodbye?  When I visit family and friends it's always hard to say goodbye.  I say prayers of blessing for them until we meet again.  I pray for safe travels just as I'm sure they do for me as I leave until we meet again; that may be Christmas, Easter, next summer, but we will meet again.  Sometimes there are tears especially when parents say goodbye to their children and grandkids.  When you love someone you want the best for them.  That always involves turning them loose or setting them free.  I know I shed a few tears when my kids went to kindergarten.  Then when they went off to college...more tears.  When Emily married Zac...yep more tears.  But even as the tears slid down my face the sadness was mixed with happiness because I knew that the life that waited for them was going to be spectacular.  It was their time and as it says in Ecclesiastes there is a time for everything.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

A Time for Everything

3 There is a time for everything,

    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2     a time to be born and a time to die,

    a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3     a time to kill and a time to heal,

    a time to tear down and a time to build,

4     a time to weep and a time to laugh,

    a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6     a time to search and a time to give up,

    a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7     a time to tear and a time to mend,

    a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8     a time to love and a time to hate,

    a time for war and a time for peace.

This week I have watched as friends said goodbye to their loved ones.  They knew it was coming; departure was inevitable.  A time to be born...a time to die.  But we love them so much we want the best for them.  And it doesn't get any better than going home to live with Jesus.  And yes tears are OK; sadness for us because we are left here but happiness for them because they have an eternity to live and dwell in Heaven.  Danny's last week here on earth, I did a lot of praying.  Preparing for that goodbye that I knew was coming.   And just as I pray for safe travels for loved ones when I leave them or they leave me, I prayed for his safe journey as he departed this life.  And just as I prayed for him I know without a doubt he prayed for the ones he loved that he was leaving; me, his kids, his parents.  I am sure he petitioned God for many things for those he loved and I believe God heard and is still answering those prayers today and will in the future as I am sure he prayed for his grandchildren that aren't even here yet.  So to my friends who are saying goodbye to their loved ones, remember this.  If you know Jesus as your lord and savior this goodbye will be be brief, even if it feels like forever on some days!  You will be reunited!  We all will be reunited with the ones we love.  That's a promise I hold on to everyday.  That's why it's so important to ask Jesus into your heart.  Salvation and a life eternal where you can praise God forever plus see all those that have gone on before, that's what it's all about because I do believe we will know our family when we get to heaven!  I can't wait!

Luke 9:61 (NIV)

61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”