Saying goodbye

This weekend I went to Tennessee to visit some good friends of mine. In this short time with them I discovered one concrete fact about the rest of my life. This fact I am about to share I already knew but for some reason it became real. So here goes, I will be saying goodbye to people for very long periods of time more than I will ever say hello to them at least in person.

Well duh, being a "missionary in training" you kinda learn about this. But just travelling the little bit I did to TN this weekend really kind of reminded me of distance and how that effects relationships, and how much you will miss them. But each time is like a fresh drink of water because when I talk to my friends who I haven't seen in forever, I am incredibly blessed. We talk about life and God and how he has amazed us lately. I may run my mouth a little to much but I love to hear about their lives, their experiences.

So when I say goodbye I really just want to take them all with me. But I can't, God's purpose for them is not to make my life a lovely little cocoon of good friends surrounding me all the time. God's purpose for them is to bless others the way they have blessed me, in turn I take that blessing and pass it on.

But I hate the thought of saying goodbye to these people, the ones I call my family. But my life must be lived for the glory of God. I will cherish the times I get to say hello and hug them personally. But the times I can't see them I will keep their beautiful lives in my mind.

All to God.