I Hate Goodbyes!!!

Hate is a bad word, you say?  Well then, I strongly dislike goodbyes.  In fact, I rarely say goodbye except on the phone.  I usually say "see you later."

Our goodbyes started almost a week ago.  Our second son, Eric, and his family were up from North Carolina for Christmas, and when they left Monday morning, we knew we wouldn't see them again until we return from Liberia.  Seeing them leave was hard enough, but knowing our new grandson, due March 27th, will be at least 7-8 months old before we see him made it even harder.  (I will survive!  Eric, who was born in Liberia, was 13 months old before my folks saw him.  What's that they say--what goes around comes around!)

Saying "see you later" to a friend on Friday was hard, too.  She and her husband will be leaving for Kenya before we get back from Liberia, and we don't know if we'll ever see each other again in this lifetime.  Of course, that could be said for all of us--we don't know when our time on this earth will be over.  I'm so thankful for God's promise in I John 5:13:  "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life." (emphasis mine)  I know I will see that friend someday, here or there.  What a promise!

We've been saying "see you later" many times over the phone and in person these last few days, but the hardest one is yet to come.  Our other son, Brad, who lives about 15 miles away, and his family will be taking us to the airport Tuesday.  I think there will be many tears shed, at least from our 2 granddaughters (ages 7 and 4) and me.  Maybe it will be all of us--who knows?!!  What I do know is that I'm all teary just writing this.

Like I said--I hate goodbyes!