Day 19 of 4: Good Bye (11/25/12)

Day 19 of 4 More Years: Originally posted on Facebook on November 25, 2012

Good bye day! Hymn day!

Is your company leaving today? Many times it is a bittersweet time on the last day of a holiday. Perhaps your family and friends are local and your goodbyes are easy... "see you tomorrow." But maybe they live far away. Then it gets more difficult. Perhaps you won't even see them again at Christmas. Sadness sort of drapes its ugly self over the last day of a visit. I always dreaded the Sunday I had to go back to school or work. "But we had so much fun! Can't we make it last?" I believe we can. I know our togetherness can last for eternity.

Goodbyes are usually hard, but for the Christian, we have a blessed provision. There was a popular song when my kids were growing up, "Friends are friends forever if the Lord's The Lord of all." It was always comforting to the graduating class and my dear friend beautifully sang it for the class each year. (Inject many tears here). 

The good news for us is that we know God is amazingly capable of caring for us while we are apart, and lovingly understands our sadness at parting. "Into His hands we should commit all our lives. He will protect and preserve even to death, and when our time comes to meet Him, He protects and keeps us especially then." Ron Holland, written only months before He met Jesus.

Hymn for today is "God Be With You." It was written in the 1880's as a Christian good-bye accompanying the doxology of scripture. Most know all the words, but cherish these phrases: 

"Counsels guide, uphold you."

"With His sheep securely fold you."

"Neath His wings securely hide you."

"Daily manna still provide you."

"Put His arms unfailing 'round you."

"Keep love's banner floating o'er you."

"Smite death's threatening wave before you."

"God be with you 'til we meet again." 

I pray these words will comfort you today if you are saying goodbye to your loved ones.

"I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." Matthew 28:20

"May The Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other." Genesis 31:49

Pray:

Father, help us rest in Your promises as we are sad to let our loved ones go. Give us joy in Your protection of us all.

Amen