We just had to say goodbye to some great friends that came to visit us from Pennsylvania and I was reminded during our visit how much I miss them.  We recalled life before Idaho, where we spent time together, walked through life together and even joked about them moving out here…well at least they were joking.

It is always hard to say goodbye or to let go of something that you really do love and enjoy.  Then I began to think of some of the great things we have experienced in our past that we would not have experienced if we hadn’t moved out here.  New chapters of growth and many great new friends that we have made since moving out west to say the least. The reality is that had we not said goodbye to life before moving to Corry, PA, we would not have said hello to our good friends that came to visit this past week.

Jesus spoke about this when he was talking to his disciples about the Holy Spirit coming to live in each believer after salvation.  He reminded them that unless he said goodbye to them, they could not have the Holy Spirit. You see they resisted any talk of Jesus leaving them.  They had grown close to him and had witnessed life transformation as never before and did not want to let go of what they knew.  But Jesus knew what was needed and what would be best for everyone-He knew his role and that it was time for him to leave so something better could take place.

I am convinced that it was not easy, but it was the best.  We all experience this transition of goodbye’s and hello’s, whether it is with a job, a friendship, or parenting your children.  It is rarely ever easy and shouldn’t be done to just create change, but when you are convinced that it is for the best, you willingly walk through it once again. 

May God give us clarity to know when and how to say goodbye to what we know and likely appreciate, to say hello to what is truly best.