27th Jul 2008
Necessary Goodbyes
On the 5th August 1991 my dad migrated to America to work. It meant that we his family had no idea when or if we would ever see him again. That morning was one of the most painful moments of my life, saying goodbye to my dad was much harder than I thought it would be. Sadness was etched on my two sisters faces, my brother was crying and my six year old son watched my father go to the plane until he disappeared from sight, tears streaming down his face.
My father’s leaving was very painful but vital because it was difficult for him to find work at his age. My father had a lot of friends but their were his ‘rum buddies’ who spent a lot of time in the village rum shop, drinking. I could never get him to attend church, no matter what I said or did, he always had an excuse. If he had a funeral to attend he would go to the grave yard and await the hearse. If it was a wedding he would go to the place where the reception was being kept.
God opened doors not only for work but he placed good people in his life. Eventually my dad accepted Jesus and now you can’t keep him out of church. I know that if my dad had remained he would never have given up the village rum shop. God took him out, away from his drinking buddies’ influences.
I’ve had quite a few goodbyes in my life since that morning, friends and relatives, some who would have migrated to different countries, others to Heaven.
Goodbyes are never easy but some goodbyes are necessary along life’s pathway. That morning as I watched my father leave, I wondered if Jesus’ disciples felt the same way when he left them to return to his father. It couldn’t have been easy for them, this was their friend, their mentor, their Lord. They walked with him, shared light moments together and they learnt many valuable lessons from him. They even lost him to death and just when it looked hopeless he arose from the dead and their joy returned. *Now here they were at the ‘Mount Of Olives’ Airport, he was leaving them and they had no idea how long he was leaving for. *As he left they watched him go until he disappeared from their sight. *Jesus’ leaving was probably painful for the disciples but it was very necessary and vital for them that he did so that the Holy Spirit could come. Jesus was leaving but better days were coming as a result Because of that goodbye we have a mediator in Heaven, someone who is both God and man that can relay our needs to His father, and we also have the Holy Spirit to comfort, convict, lead and guide us into all truth.
Perhaps God is asking you to say goodbye to something or someone that you wish to hold on to, consider this…goodbyes can bring transformation, reformation and new purpose.
*Acts 1:9 ; 10
*John 14 : 16 - 17
Written By Linda Herbert
On the 5th August 1991 my dad migrated to America to work. It meant that we his family had no idea when or if we would ever see him again. That morning was one of the most painful moments of my life, saying goodbye to my dad was much harder than I thought it would be. Sadness was etched on my two sisters faces, my brother was crying and my six year old son watched my father go to the plane until he disappeared from sight, tears streaming down his face.
My father’s leaving was very painful but vital because it was difficult for him to find work at his age. My father had a lot of friends but their were his ‘rum buddies’ who spent a lot of time in the village rum shop, drinking. I could never get him to attend church, no matter what I said or did, he always had an excuse. If he had a funeral to attend he would go to the grave yard and await the hearse. If it was a wedding he would go to the place where the reception was being kept.
God opened doors not only for work but he placed good people in his life. Eventually my dad accepted Jesus and now you can’t keep him out of church. I know that if my dad had remained he would never have given up the village rum shop. God took him out, away from his drinking buddies’ influences.
I’ve had quite a few goodbyes in my life since that morning, friends and relatives, some who would have migrated to different countries, others to Heaven.
Goodbyes are never easy but some goodbyes are necessary along life’s pathway. That morning as I watched my father leave, I wondered if Jesus’ disciples felt the same way when he left them to return to his father. It couldn’t have been easy for them, this was their friend, their mentor, their Lord. They walked with him, shared light moments together and they learnt many valuable lessons from him. They even lost him to death and just when it looked hopeless he arose from the dead and their joy returned. *Now here they were at the ‘Mount Of Olives’ Airport, he was leaving them and they had no idea how long he was leaving for. *As he left they watched him go until he disappeared from their sight. *Jesus’ leaving was probably painful for the disciples but it was very necessary and vital for them that he did so that the Holy Spirit could come. Jesus was leaving but better days were coming as a result Because of that goodbye we have a mediator in Heaven, someone who is both God and man that can relay our needs to His father, and we also have the Holy Spirit to comfort, convict, lead and guide us into all truth.
Perhaps God is asking you to say goodbye to something or someone that you wish to hold on to, consider this…goodbyes can bring transformation, reformation and new purpose.
*Acts 1:9 ; 10
*John 14 : 16 - 17
Written By Linda Herbert
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