We came home, had a couple of days with Seth and Rebecca before putting them on a plane back to Utah, then it was back to the ranch for the last couple of weeks. I still have days when tears surface as I think of how quickly things change. How precious our time with family and friends is! My tears are definitely happy ones.
It was not too many years ago, Rog and I found ourselves saying goodbye over and over again in just a short period of time, to our own children, to dear friends, to those in our church family that were following the leadership of the Lord as He led them other places to minister. How hard it was! I was drained and feeling quite a void. Finally, as I said goodbye and hung up the phone with yet another dear friend headed back to Korea, I told Rog I was so tired of saying goodbye. It seemed at the time it was all we were doing. He tenderly reminded me how blessed we were to have so many people in our lives to be able to know and love, and say goodbye to.
It was true. And that is how I have tried to see it since then. Does it make it any easier? No, but it has changed my perspective. I don't dread saying goodbye anymore. I don't like it any more than before, but it's one more opportunity to praise the Lord for the blessing of family and friends, for the chance to share and love, to build into each other's lives and make some precious memories. My focus is no longer on me and the loss and void I feel, but on the goodness of God.
So, as God continues to bless with the preciousness of family, and allows us to know and love others as we cross paths, I'll gladly say goodbye for that chance. The joy and blessing is too great to pass up.
"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you...because I have you in my heart." Philippians 1: 3, 7
