Relationships. As an extrovert, this is one of my favorite things to talk about. The third aspect of preparation for the World Race is in the area of relationships. How to say goodbye to those I love, and how to foster the relationships coming up ahead. To be frank, I am really REALLY sad to say goodbye to loved ones while I’m gone. But here’s what I know: God is still faithful. God has used my circumstances over the past few years to teach me some things about goodbyes.
When I was 16, I moved to Arkansas from Oregon. At that time, it would have made no difference whether or not that was a whole new country. There was so much unknown, and I didn’t know a soul in the entire state. That was when God taught me to have joy in “Hellos” rather than focusing on the goodbyes. Arkansas was a beautiful new home for me, and I would have missed out on so much had I mourned over the loss of loved ones in Portland rather than branching out and investing in the relationships I built in Cabot.
Then, I had to say goodbye when I started school at University of Mobile, EIGHT hours away from my parents and siblings. That was a tough one. This goodbye taught me about the what binds us in love. I learned that love is a decision, and my family will always decide to love me in any season and from any distance. My earthly family taught me that, but it also taught me alot about how to love my heavenly family. As God adopts us into His kingdom, His love that abides within us pours out to our heavenly brothers and sisters in Christ. We are called to love people, and love people WELL. The goodbyes I say to my family are never forever goodbyes. We can have peace in that for our heavenly family, as well.
For a short while, I had to say goodbye to my life in Mobile at school to intern with ICP in Heber Springs (and then again when I left new friends in HS). Those goodbye taught me that it is ALWAYS worth it to be present in the current circumstance rather than focus on the past or hope for the future. The people I met in Heber Springs shaped me more than in any other season of life. I never would have grown the way I did if I hadn’t made the choice to be vulnerable and let new friends into my life. Be intentional; it is so worth it.
Last week, I had to say goodbye to my church family. I never realized how hard that would be until it happened. God had truly blessed me by showing me a glimpse of what His family in heaven looks like. I had real and deep friendships at Hope of the Nations (my church in Mobile) that loved me as Christ does. What a beautiful time of my life to have a loving church family to walk through life with me. This goodbye is teaching me to depend on the Lord foremost in life. As an extrovert, it is always my first thought to talk to a friend or family member when something hard happens so that I can process it better. But God is our Greatest Friend because He fully knows us and fully loves us with infinite wisdom and grace, and He is our Great Father in perfect and holy love. There will be times in my life where I will have no one on Earth to comfort me, and God is using these goodbyes to remind me that I can rest in Him solely. He is my sustainer. He gives me JOY.
So as I prepare relationally for the World Race, and am learning to seek new friends, but to also pour into the old ones. I am learning to be present and intentional with those I have with me now. But most of all, I am learning that God is Love, and He will always be enough for me.
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