Embracing Farewell

Growing up I have always been shy, which didn’t lend itself to making large number of friends. Instead I chose to develop a small circle of friends. I have always envied my sibling’s outgoing personality but it just never came that easy for me. Letting someone new in is never easy for me. So you can imagine how difficult goodbye must be.

But as you know, God never leaves us in our places of comfort for too long. He nudges us and at times gives us a big push in order to produce growth in our lives. That’s what He has been doing for me in the past few months of this year. He’s taken me down new roads meeting new people and encountering new experiences. At times I have trodden  along timidly and other times a bit defiantly, kicking, screaming, and pleading that He give me a moment to catch my breath.

Once I have said hello to something new I long to cling to it but I have experienced quite a few exits that caused me to grieve and question why I had to go through the experience. But God in His kindness has been teaching me the true value of goodbye. When I clutch onto to the things in my life that He has chosen to usher out, I keep myself stuck and stunted. It is the farewells of life that makes room for new hellos.

Father help me (and others like me) to embrace what you’re doing now. Teach us how to mourn during the allotted time but not to get stuck there. Lord I thank you for the ability to move forward in You. Thank you that as we walk along life’s journey you are with us! We chose to place our confidence in You and in Your ability to guide us along the right paths for lives. In Jesus name, Amen.