On The Move

I find myself a bit amused this morning with God's sweet sense of humor and His tender way of caring for me.
Just yesterday afternoon, as I drove home in the car with my daughters, God was preparing me and giving me answers before I even realized I had a question.

We were coming home from running errands and my 7 year old was sprawled out in the back seat asleep while my 10 year old was in the front seat with me, playing a game on her D.S.i.
She let out a sigh and sat, looking down at the floor, clearly troubled. This, in case you didn't already know, is code in girl language for "something is wrong, but I want you to ask me about it before I tell you".
So, I asked her what was wrong. She begins by informing tme that it's just not fare that all the best friends she has made over her short 10 years have all either moved away, or she has had to leave them behind to move. Last year, her best little friend Roxie had to move right towards the end of the school year. Roxie's last day at school was unexpected and earlier than we thought it would be, and Olivia was absent that day. She didn't get to say goodbye. The phone numbers we had for them are now disconected, and Olivia has no way to "ever see her again..." (Olivia states dramatically). She then goes on to talk about 3 or 4 other little friends that she no longer gets to see, whom she really loved and had so much in common with, and how she doesn't have anyone like that now.
I felt sad listening to her, and wished I could make her understand that the new school year was on the horizon and it was full of the hope of making new best friends and having all sorts of new amazing memories.

I began to tell her about how people come into our lives for all differant reasons. Some people, like your family, are meant to be in your life forever. Some people, we only know for a few days or weeks or even just a moment. Some people are our very good friends, but sometimes they aren't meant to stay forever. It's hard to understand, but God has a plan for all of us and sometimes that plan takes us to many differant places. It hurts to say goodbye. It's ok to miss them, it's normal. It's ok to cry and remember the good times you had and to wish you could see them again. But, it's also ok to open our hearts to the next "best friend" God brings along for us.
I helped her to see that if she'd never had to move away she wouldn't have met some of those best buds, because she would have stayed in the same ol' place. I asked her if she thought it were better to have had the time she had with each of her close friends, but had to suffer the goodbyes, or would she rather have never met some of them, stayed in the same place, but not had to say goodbye so soon.
She and I agreed it was better to have known them and spent time with them, no matter how short, rather than ot have never met them at all.
I told her that I agreed....life was hard sometimes and not fair. When we felt sad or didn't understand all the "why's" the best thing to do is take that hurt to Jesus. He may not always give you what you want, or answer all your questions, but He will always love you and help ease the pain.
I also told her that one thing she could always rest in was that God was always with her, always on her side, and always moving behind the scenes to make good things happen for her. I said "so that means that right now....while we are in the car driving home....God is busy working on something great for you this year. Maybe even a new best friend."
She thought that sounded pretty good.

As we drove on I reflected on some of my best friends that I've had to say goodbye to over the years. People who meant the world to me, who I thought I would never be able to live without. The pain isn't as sharp for me now, because I took it all to Jesus a long time ago.

I thought nothing more about this until this morning when I realized what Jesus had done. You see, last night I went to my regular Wednesday night women's bible study, only it wasn't a regular night because we were having a special "going away party" for one of the girls who is moving far far away to New York city next week.
I've been stubbornly avoiding the emotional reality of this fact for the last few months, trying not to think about the approaching "D-day", but last night was the last time we'd have her in small group on Wednesday nights. I cried, which for me is a big deal, and I felt an old longing creeping up for not only her, but all the goodbye's from the past.
I found myself wishing for more time with her. A few more weeks, or just one more fun filled day.

This morning, God brought to my mind the conversation I'd had with my daughter the afternoon before. I could feel Him repeating those same words of comfort to me...
"Some people are not meant to stay in our lives forever, but they live in our hearts for a lifetime."
God has plans for me and for them, and sometimes those plans take us away from the places and people we love. But, just on the horizon is another adventure, more amazing friendhsips and even still, more goodbye's. It is a part of this life.
There will come a day when there are no more goodbye's no more sadness or longing, and on that day we will all meet in heaven for our regular Wednesday night Bible study.

To my sweet friend Margaret Zundel, and all the best friends I've had to say goodbye to. I love you, and I'll see you again real soon.