Friends

I recently had to say goodbye to a friend.  I haven't had to say a lot of goodbyes to people that are still alive.

Most of the people that I meet in my area aren't transient, but "locals" who like it here and stay in the area for most of their lives.  My friend, on the other hand, is very transient.  I never really thought of her moving away, despite the fact that there were things that were pointing her in that direction now and again.  No family ties to this area...her husband's company is located in different areas in the country and he could transfer, she needed a job that, for some reason, the Lord was not allowing her to obtain while she lived in this area, etc.

I don't like goodbyes.

She is someone that the Lord placed in my life for several reasons.  There was a time that she shared something with me that only God could have known I needed to hear at the time.  She didn't even know, I don't think, why she felt led to share it with me, other than from God.  I had never told her and still haven't that my family struggles in that area.  It cuts too deep.  

Another reason why I know that the Lord brought her into my life is that she has an older child and also a child who is my youngest's age - 4 years old.  She understands the teenage struggles and also the struggles of being a mom to a little one.  I don't have other friends who have a little one like I do because most of my friends I've had for years and their children are the ages of my oldest ones (about 20 years old).

Her son and my daughter became best friends (both 4 years old).  I call them Bible study buddies because we attended two Bible studies together each week and the kids went together like peanut butter and jelly. When his nose would run, she would wipe it (no kidding), when he would read (yes, he's been reading since he was 2!) she (my daughter) would listen to him, she would tell him to settle down (like any "mother" would) when he was getting rambunctious, they had matching hats, loved umbrellas and pancakes.

I had to say goodbye to a really special, sister in Christ and it broke my heart to see the friendship that we seemed to just be developing in the last year, being stretched across the country.

I cannot wait for Heaven where I believe that I will see her again, if I don't get the opportunity to see her again in this life.  There will be no good-byes in Heaven.  For that I am thankful.

I'm so done with goodbyes.