Goodbye.

I have always hated goodbyes. I avoid them. I leave without hugging and crying and making it worse. I think it's too much pressure - trying to tie up years of memories and thoughts into a couple of lame, farewell statements.

"It's been so good to know you."
"You will be great no matter where you go."
"Etc...etc...etc...."

Nothing I say in those few sentences can really say what I want to say.

I want to stop you and say, "don't go. Just stay here. Don't make everything different. Don't force me to change; to move on; to invest in new relationships; to find someone to fill the gap you are leaving."

My life and the lives of people around me have been filled with goodbyes recently - farewells to people moving across the country and farewells to people moving from Earth into eternity. And it's difficult. It's difficult to watch. It's difficult to experience.

I long for the day when there are no more goodbyes. No more tears. No more pain.

But that day is not today.

So I will trust that God is faithful. I will remember that His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. I will smile through the tears and be grateful for the time I had with them.

I will say goodbye.