You know, I've had to say "goodbye" to a lot of people in my life. Weather it is the greeter at WalMart wishing me a happy Saturday, a close friend going abroad, Psych when it ends the last season, Seniors at graduation, or even saying "goodbye" to my grandmother as she passes. It's never easy. Never. It always leaves this feeling in my mind and body like "oh, I forgot to tell them..." or "wait, I needed to..." so on and so on. I always want more. Especially living in this over-indulgent world that is able to beautifully give us more-than-we-need of everything. But that's one thing that is a constant. Sooner or later, you say "goodbye."
But, in their own right, "goodbyes" are awesome things. They always seem to happen at just the right time, even if we don't realize until later. Like in Mary Poppins where Mary decides to leave, for the kids have fun with their father and the father sees how wonderfully spectacular his children are! Or like in Nanny McPhee where the children finally understand the significance of what is asked of them and starts to see the humanity in adults. In both of these movies, it is the children who feel the brunt of the "goodbye blues" at first (before they have a blast with their parents). See those movies as an adult, I'm always thinking "of course she's leaving now, because you guys finally get it! Woo!" But then I end up asking "why?" every time I have to say "goodbye" to someone. Of course, I'm sure they don't have the grand plan as Mary Poppins and Nanny McPhee had, but a "goodbye" always affects me. I am always left with my thoughts and in that, and the days following, I grow as a person.
Truly, I believe that every single person we come into contact with impacts our life, even if it's only a tiny bit. And those people in our lives everyday, well, we need to say "goodbye" to them, even if it's only for a few hours, months, days, years, forever. For only when they are away from you will you feel the impact they have made. It's true. That "you never know what you have until it's gone." It's true. But there's no use looking at it through those sad eyes. Think of how blessed you were having them in your life. If you went on seeing them every single day, all day, you would take it for granted and not see the true beauty of what you have with that person.
Jesus said His goodbyes before His crucifixion and warned his disciples more than once of what is to come. However, the disciples, being human (and Jesus also being human) didn't fully believe it. Think about it. If a close friend/ally/mentor said to you "soon, I will die." Part of you thinks "nah, can't be." Another part of you thinks "I must spend as much time with this person as possible and soak up all of their amazing intelligence." And, just as you would do when you know a "goodbye" is coming, when the time came, it was, alas, too soon. Lovely news is that Jesus rose again three days later. Thing is, he left us on a cliff-hanger. But that's a later post!
See, though the disciples were immensely distraught (for they have seen things The Bible doesn't mention, is my belief) they took what He taught them and let it affect their lives and, in turn, affect the World.
I believe we have that capability. When we say "goodbye," we are allowing that person to leave an impression on us. And, whether good or bad, we allow it to change how we see the world, how we act, how we say "goodbye" next time. It's allowing you to grow into the person you will be tomorrow.
So, really, you never, really, totally say "goodbye" to that person. Whether you believe in an afterlife or not, you carry upon you what that person left with you. No matter what it might be. Isn't that beautiful and something to, truly, be celebrated. I think so. Although "goodbyes" are rough and never, ever easy, they're important and crucial and, sooner or later, beautiful.
But, in their own right, "goodbyes" are awesome things. They always seem to happen at just the right time, even if we don't realize until later. Like in Mary Poppins where Mary decides to leave, for the kids have fun with their father and the father sees how wonderfully spectacular his children are! Or like in Nanny McPhee where the children finally understand the significance of what is asked of them and starts to see the humanity in adults. In both of these movies, it is the children who feel the brunt of the "goodbye blues" at first (before they have a blast with their parents). See those movies as an adult, I'm always thinking "of course she's leaving now, because you guys finally get it! Woo!" But then I end up asking "why?" every time I have to say "goodbye" to someone. Of course, I'm sure they don't have the grand plan as Mary Poppins and Nanny McPhee had, but a "goodbye" always affects me. I am always left with my thoughts and in that, and the days following, I grow as a person.
Truly, I believe that every single person we come into contact with impacts our life, even if it's only a tiny bit. And those people in our lives everyday, well, we need to say "goodbye" to them, even if it's only for a few hours, months, days, years, forever. For only when they are away from you will you feel the impact they have made. It's true. That "you never know what you have until it's gone." It's true. But there's no use looking at it through those sad eyes. Think of how blessed you were having them in your life. If you went on seeing them every single day, all day, you would take it for granted and not see the true beauty of what you have with that person.
Jesus said His goodbyes before His crucifixion and warned his disciples more than once of what is to come. However, the disciples, being human (and Jesus also being human) didn't fully believe it. Think about it. If a close friend/ally/mentor said to you "soon, I will die." Part of you thinks "nah, can't be." Another part of you thinks "I must spend as much time with this person as possible and soak up all of their amazing intelligence." And, just as you would do when you know a "goodbye" is coming, when the time came, it was, alas, too soon. Lovely news is that Jesus rose again three days later. Thing is, he left us on a cliff-hanger. But that's a later post!
See, though the disciples were immensely distraught (for they have seen things The Bible doesn't mention, is my belief) they took what He taught them and let it affect their lives and, in turn, affect the World.
I believe we have that capability. When we say "goodbye," we are allowing that person to leave an impression on us. And, whether good or bad, we allow it to change how we see the world, how we act, how we say "goodbye" next time. It's allowing you to grow into the person you will be tomorrow.
So, really, you never, really, totally say "goodbye" to that person. Whether you believe in an afterlife or not, you carry upon you what that person left with you. No matter what it might be. Isn't that beautiful and something to, truly, be celebrated. I think so. Although "goodbyes" are rough and never, ever easy, they're important and crucial and, sooner or later, beautiful.
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