Fond Farwells — A LifeWords Devotion

When he had finished speaking, he knelt and prayed with them. They all cried as they embraced and kissed him good-bye. They were sad most of all because he had said that they would never see him again. Then they escorted him down to the ship. (NLT) 

It is so hard to say goodbye. When working in the airline industry back in the days of the Vietnam war, I was present when families farewelled servicemen going off to Vietnam. Who knows if they would return? And even in more “normal” times, there are the shed tears of those bidding goodbye to loved ones whom they may never see again.

This was Paul’s situation as he farewelled members of the church at Ephesus. It is just one  example of how drawing close to people intensifies the pain of leaving them. Most of us realise that love and pain are close companions. And those fond farewells are obvious reminders of the fact.

But saying goodbye, whether through bereavement or merely moving elsewhere, can be the beginning of something new. In every ending there are the seeds of a new beginning. One closed door can cause us to discern other open doors. Life does not end, the chance for happiness does not end, because of a sad goodbye.

Saying a fond farewell can be both an ending and a beginning, a departure and an arrival. The sadness is not to be minimised, but nor is the hope and the promise of another chapter in our life story.

Blessings,

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David