SAYING GOODBYE

Can you imagine driving to the airport 59 times to say ‘goodbye’ to someone in the family. Over the years our children flew off to places like America, England, Northern Ireland, Sudan, Indonesia, Ghana, Rwanda and India – to serve God. Sometimes they return to visit, but eventually fly away again.

A grand-daughter once lost an eye in an accident in Java so that the family urgently returned home for three months’ medical help. We enjoyed family events to encourage the lass who received an artificial eye.

During that time two family weddings provided happy memories. But all too soon we faced saying ‘goodbye’. We drove to the airport with cases and luggage to check in, then followed prayer, hugs and kisses, and eventually farewell waves to family, who were soon out of sight behind the airport doors.

We always waited until the plane left the ground, watching the plane’s wheels gradually move, centimetre by centimetre, then metre by metre, until the plane turned into the runway, where it gathered speed, and up, up, up, up it went, flying into the clouds, and out of our vision.

We then ordered orang juice, which we drank as the tears rolled down our cheeks. Although returning to lands to share the gospel, we sadly knew it might be a long time before we met again. Perhaps two or three years, sometimes longer, sometimes less. We pulled out our hankies and tissues to wipe away the tears.

It is O-Kay to cry. God created both tears and laughter.

However, as we left and drove home, we wondered how God felt when He sent His Son away from the beauty of heaven to come down to earth to be born as a little baby. His mother, Mary, was so surprised when the angel came to tell her that she would carry this baby in her body till He was ready to be born. Mary was excited, and very happy that God chose her to be the mother of the Saviour.

But one day Mary said ‘Goodbye’ to her son, as she saw Him laid on the Cross outside Jerusalem. And Jesus left her in the care of John.

But God was His Father. How did God feel when He said ;’Goodbye’ to Jesus? The bible says that God showed us the best possible love when He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ , as a precious gift to live on earth for 33 years.

One day He died for us, when He took the punishment for our sin. But three days later, Jesus came alive, and forty days later Jesus returned to Heaven.

I do not know whether God cried any tears when He said ‘Goodbye’ to His Son.

Maybe He was sad, but very glad that Jesus willingly gave His life for us to become God’s children. One day I will meet Jesus in Heaven, because I trusted Him as my Saviour.

I will be there. Will you?

Learn: ‘While He ( that is Jesus ) blessed them, He was parted from them,

and carried up into heaven. ‘ Luke 24:51