Daily Devotional – 10/8/11 “It’s so hard to say goodbye”

As a child you may have had a favorite toy or blanket that you never wanted to part with. As a teenager it was probably somebody you considered a best friends or that one special person that you thought would last. As an adult, it tends to be materials things or family members because it’s then we learn the real value of family. All these things seem so hard to say goodbye to.

When your favorite car breaks down and it’s not worth the money to fix, you don’t want to say goodbye to it. When your best friend moves away with family or with a job, you don’t want to say goodbye. But when mom, dad, sister, brother, cousin, niece, nephew dies it makes you wonder if some of the things you’ve placed a value on really matter.

When you’re standing over that casket saying goodbye, it puts a lot of things into perspective.  Like that no good significant other who isn’t worth the tears anymore. That dead end job is not worth the stress anymore. Those begging friends that always have their hands out aren’t worth it anymore either. You’ve come to realize that life is too short and it is worth living.

Appreciate the family and friends that you have today because the next minute of anyone’s life isn’t promised. I, personally, haven’t had to deal with the death of a close family member in the past 11 years, and for that I know I’m blessed. God has covered our family with his blood and protected us for so long that when it is time to say goodbye it is even harder. But I’m thankful for all that I’ve been taught by a praying grandma who is still strong and whose faith I’ve never seen waiver. I’m thankful for praying family and friends that keep my name on their lips, not because of gossip but because they are praying for me. I return the favor every chance I get. Yes, I pray for you every day even without calling your name. I don’t have to know your situation personally because I know a situation fixer.

So when it comes time for you to say goodbye to something or someone know that it’s God’s doing. As we travel to lay our cousin Christann Arnett to rest, I take comfort in knowing that she was a soldier for God so her living wasn’t in vain. She has prepared herself for this so it is well! When it’s time to say goodbye to her, it won’t be hard because I know that if I live right I’ll see her again.