Five Minute Friday: Goodbye

Six years ago on a warm July evening, I wrote a goodbye letter to my husband, one to my (then) six year old son, and one to my three year old daughter.  I was leaving the next day for a mission trip to Peru with my church.  I felt confident that I would return safely to my family, but I also knew that there are no assurances in life.  I wanted them to know how much I loved them.  I remember writing through tears, and it feeling as though the words were coming from my heart and soul, not from my brain.  It was heart-wrenching to think about never seeing them again.

Writing such a letter forces you to slow down and consider what is important to you in life.  Each relationship that you have is unique and precious.  I had the luxury of time to consider each word and say everything that I wanted to say.  Tomorrow I could be hit by a bus and be gone in an instant, with no chance to say goodbye to those I hold dear.  Just like the phrase says, we need to live each day as if it were our last.  Living an intentional life is key and one of the best ways to let people know how we feel about them if we aren't given the opportunity to do it in person.  We need to speak love and truth into the lives of others, because that will be what our life echos when we're gone.

The letters I wrote remain sealed.  I cannot remember exactly what I wrote in each one, but I know they included things like:

Love God with all your heart, and above all else.
Find ways to bless others.
Serve with a happy heart.
Seek His comfort in the hard times.
Trust Him.
Never forget how much I love you.