The gift of goodbye

Photo: bethannchiles

Goodbyes... Have you ever wondered why it's called "good"-bye and not "bad"-bye? Usually, when we think of goodbyes, we think of sadness, pain, tears and anything of the same category. Sometimes, goodbyes are uttered with a positive spin, such as "see you soon", "see you later", or simply "later". Or sometimes, it's said with an early onset of reminiscence - "I'll miss you."

Yes, I admit goodbyes are sad occasions most of the time. It means we won't be seeing our loved ones, friends, even boyfriends/girlfriends. But when you think about it... isn't the word "goodbye" enough of a hint to let us know that goodbyes are anything BUT sad? What if we change our perspective of goodbyes and think of them as different chapters in our lives?

"One of the hardest things to accept is that not everyone is meant to be in our lives forever. Some people are meant to be with you for the long-term, of course - your spouse, your children, your siblings, your parents, and your closest friends. But then there are those God brings across your path for a season, maybe a mentor, a teacher, or a guide of some sort to help you through a certain stage of life or a difficult time." - Joel Osteen

When people leave, maybe we should think of these moments as both parties moving on, instead of people leaving us behind. When our mentors move on, it is also a chance for us to develop and grow into people we are meant to be at that point in time. When our friends move on, it means we've already learned what we needed to. It's time for them to move past being our mentors/teachers and for us to apply the lessons we hopefully learned.

On the other hand, there are goodbyes that we celebrate. When it comes to broken relationships (friends/lovers), we can't help but give a sigh of relief. We think that finally, we're past that destructive phase and we can let go of our heavy burden. But we should not just rejoice the freedom, but also the possibilities that come with it - the possibility of new relationships, new beginnings. According to my best friend Joel O. (I wish haha!), "You want people in your life who are supposed to be there. When God wants them present in your life, they don't find fault in everything you do, and you don't have to manipulate them to stay. When people leave your life, they are no longer a part of your destiny. Their time is over. If you stay open, God will give you people who are not just with you, but for you."

What's the difference, you might ask. People who are WITH you are just there, tagging along because of your common interests... because what you're doing is right... because you're offering something they want or need. People who are FOR you, however, are your resident cheerleaders. Even if you're not aligned all the time... or engage in petty fights... or make mistakes now and then... you can be assured that they'll be with you through thick and thin, supporting you... believing the best in you.

"God will always bring the right people into your life. The right people will never show up if you don't clear out the wrong people." - Joel Osteen