Saying Goodbye.

Saying Goodbye.

            Saying goodbye is hard. I feel so blessed to have been able to love these people for this season. These are my brothers and sisters. What a gift they have been. I don’t know if I will hug these people ever again, I don’t know if I will hear their laugh ever again. I know I will see them eventually, if not in this life then in Heaven. But, it will never be the same, nothing ever really is. That is what is so beautiful about this life. Like a growing child, every moment is so tender and special and sweet because it only lasts a moment. That is what makes moments so precious. I will miss these friends and family. I have loved running the race with them. I have loved fighting the good fight of faith with them, crying with them, laughing with them, and being with them. I will miss these dear friends ad family members. I will miss this sweet season.

            I am in awe of the community of people God has brought into my life. Last year at this time I was crying nearly every night because I had no friends and I felt so alone. In that place, God taught me the beauty and joy found in Him alone. He is the only thing that stays the same, He is the only friend that will never hurt us. It is Him, His love, His mercy, His goodness, and His grace that is our strength. During this season God taught me how to be fulfilled without any friends. I almost didn’t come back to school this year because of how hard last year was. And now, I am in awe of the beautiful friendships God has blessed me with. And the wonderful family members I have grown closer to. Every good and perfect gift comes from above. These people are the good and perfect gifts God gave me for this season. I am so thankful.

            Everything is changing, everything is always changing. Our friendships, our location, our occupations, our outward appearance, even ourselves. Nothing stays the same except God. This is hard for me to accept, some people thrive on change, I am not one of those people. Consistency is my comfort. There is no consistency in what the next year of my life will look like and I am terrified. Terrified and surprisingly okay. I am okay because I know Jesus. He has never let me down and I know He won’t do it now. He is my ultimate healer, ultimate comforter, ultimate consistency, and best friend. No one and nothing will ever love me better or bring me more joy than Him. And so, even though I don’t want to go, I don’t want to say goodbye, I don’t like that everything is changing, I am following Him and He is with me and I know I will be okay. I am scared and this is hard, but, I trust God. His kingdom, His story, and His name are what matters. Everything else in this life will fade away, but God never will.

            Thank you Father for the amazing season this has been. Thank you for the beautiful people that you created. Thank you for allowing me to do life with them for a season. Thank you for allowing me to join hands with them and seek you together. Thank you for letting me love them. Thank you for staying the same, even when the whole world is changing. Thank you for loving my friends and family and loving me and comforting us in saying goodbye. Thank you for making a place for us in your kingdom to be with you and with each other forever. You do not have to give to us or promise us these good things, but you do. I love you Lord, we love you Lord. Thank you for being so so good to us. I am sad and afraid but I trust you Jesus and I thank you for all that you have given me, for who you are, and for what is to come. Amen

Scripture:

Luke 17:30-33 “It will be just like this on the day the Son of man is revealed. On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one on the field should go back for anything. Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.”

* What are you holding onto in this life that you need to let go of? What would you go back for? For me, it is my family and my friends that God is teaching me to let go of.

Luke 18:27-28 “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!”

Luke 18:29-30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Matthew 13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Matthew 6:31-33 “So do not worry, saying, ‘what shall we eat?’ Or ‘What shall we drink?’ Or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus come to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the very end of the age.”

John 14:2-4 “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Nehemiah 8:10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”