Goodbye is not Goodbye

Saying good-bye to people has always been very hard for me. When someone I care about moves away or leaves the job, or when relatives and friends go back home after a visit, in whatever form it happens, I just don't do well with goodbye's. It takes everything in me not to cry, and then after trying so hard not to cry, I still get tears anyway. I would prefer to not ever have to say good-bye to people I care about.

Today I went to my aunt's funeral. But this time, it didn't feel like I was saying good-bye. It wasn't a sad time or a solemn time. It was more of a time of joy and remembrance of someone who lived a life that was pleasing to God. It was a time of seeing relatives I hadn't seen in so many years. It was a time for getting to talk to cousins that I no longer know, but was able to become reacquainted with. Today, I didn't cry.

After all of the funeral services were over, some of us went to my parent's house. We had such a nice time catching up with each other. And then before we all parted, we did something that has always been a part of our family get-togethers as long as I can remember. We went to the living room, I played the piano and my sister and my cousin sang a few songs. And then my husband and my cousin's husband joined in the singing so that my mother, my dad, my uncle and aunt could all listen to their kids singing. It was such a great way to end a day that in other circumstances could have been so sad. I have a feeling that Aunt Katherine was watching and smiling from heaven -- and she was probably singing along on these old family favorites. After the out-of-town relatives left, Eddie and I ate with my mom and dad because people had been so kind as to bring them lots of food. Today didn't feel like I was saying good-bye -- it was more like saying "I'll see you when I get there!"

Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved -- you and your household. Acts 16:31