Good-bye is a Four Letter Word

Just in time to say good-bye.

[](http://brendayoder.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/img_1464.jpg)That's just about how much time we'll have, my daughter and I, as she comes home from college this week, only to turn back around to leave for Guatemala for the summer.

"***I'm ready to come home ***
***but not ready to say good-bye" ***
she said in a conversation last week.

Boy, do those words have **weight** in them.

She doesn't like good-byes.
I mean, who does?
Except for those good-riddance ones.
Luckily, that's not the kind
of good-bye we're having
**This time.**

Making the good-bye transition with children
is a process that never ends. I'm learning, though,
when we keep our hands too tightly on our children,
we don't allow them to grow in the ways God desires.

God began teaching me this two years ago
when Baby Girl was considering going to
the-college-over-the-mountain.

"Seriously, child" I thought.
"You've been accepted to A Good School here in Indiana.
It's in the middle of a cornfield even.
You don't know what you're talking about."

And just as audible as I could hear, the Lord says to my spirit,

***"I want to work in her life ***
***but you're standing in the way.***
*** Back off."***

Maybe you don't need the Lord to speak to you
in such blunt tones,
but I do.
I heard it loud and clear,
"Back off."

In that moment,
I knew God was speaking to *my* child,
and she was **hearing** Him.

I also knew in that moment if my firstborn was being called to the mission field like she had been suggesting for years, then going to a school beyond the Mountain, half a day away, could it be a stepping stone for her (and us) if she is called somewhere else in Kingdom Come long term.

Why does God have to plan so good?

So, our heart-wrenching good-bye
at the school-over-the-mountain-where
-she-knew-ABSOLUTELY-NOONE
was just one step
the first step

(her brother said, "This is when we just get in the van and drive away" as Baby Girl clung to her dad.)

Step two of saying good-bye
as she is about to be dropped
in the middle of the jungle
is equally as challenging.

(I know it's not a jungle,
but I like animation
as I buy jungle paraphernalia
like mosquito netting)

Good-bye, this time,
is yet another step to a
longer good-bye
that may be yet to come.

One years, two years, maybe more.
Lovely.

With each good-bye ,
as I watch my child's faith grow,
my own faith has been immeasurably stretched.

*How can I argue with a child *
*who's allowed the King to capture her heart? *
*How can I argue with God about *
*His will for my child?*

*okay, His child.*

Releasing to let go.
Not easy, but essential.

In all of this, my mind isn't far from my dear cousin whose daughter, too, was a lover of the Lord, serving Him in full-time ministry. The Lord called her home at age 34 just a few months ago.
A good-bye never expected.
Seriously, Lord?

Enough said.

***"I'm ready to come home, but not ready to leave."***

That just about sums up this thing called life
longing to be with Him,
but not quite ready to leave here.

Where ever your good-byes take you this week,
may we all rest in the comfort of our Lord and Savior.
Clinging to the good.
Releasing the rest for His glory.

This is where we get in the van, and just drive away.

(good-bye).