Today as K and I were walking to the car I felt the cool breeze and said, "Stop! Let's enjoy this. Pretty soon we won't be feeling this again." All that we are feeling right now is summed up in that little moment.
We leave in just a few more days. There is something about the transitions that make you hypersensitive to the differences. Years ago there may have been some bitterness or grumbling in those feelings. I can't say that the grumbling is never mixed in with those feelings. I can say, however, that we have made it a point to follow Paul's instruction to Do all with without grumbling and complaining and give thanks in all circumstances. Being able to stop and enjoy that breeze shows me that it's becoming more natural.
There is always a sadness as we leave as well as a weariness as the many farewells pile up. Ten years is a long time to continually say goodbye to your loved ones. Yet there is an inner eagerness to get back to what has become 'normal' life (if there is such a thing).
These in-between moments feel long and that adds to the readiness to pull the band-aid and get the long flights over with and get to the end of the awkward transition. However, this time we are watching our 8-year-old daughter as she is learning what the goodbyes feel like. It can be a tiring thing to not only deal with your own inner feelings (and trying to process them in a healthy manner) while also helping your children begin to do the same.
Maybe the best thing we can do for their hearts as well as our own is to continue to be thankful in all circumstances no matter what side of the world we are in. Maybe saying out loud that something is good and really soaking it in is the best way to tell our hearts that everything is going to be okay and that God is kind and generous in the midst of transitions. Today it's a cool breeze and tomorrow.. well it just may be grilled fish and fresh papaya or something else that I am least expecting.
We leave in just a few more days. There is something about the transitions that make you hypersensitive to the differences. Years ago there may have been some bitterness or grumbling in those feelings. I can't say that the grumbling is never mixed in with those feelings. I can say, however, that we have made it a point to follow Paul's instruction to Do all with without grumbling and complaining and give thanks in all circumstances. Being able to stop and enjoy that breeze shows me that it's becoming more natural.
There is always a sadness as we leave as well as a weariness as the many farewells pile up. Ten years is a long time to continually say goodbye to your loved ones. Yet there is an inner eagerness to get back to what has become 'normal' life (if there is such a thing).
These in-between moments feel long and that adds to the readiness to pull the band-aid and get the long flights over with and get to the end of the awkward transition. However, this time we are watching our 8-year-old daughter as she is learning what the goodbyes feel like. It can be a tiring thing to not only deal with your own inner feelings (and trying to process them in a healthy manner) while also helping your children begin to do the same.
Maybe the best thing we can do for their hearts as well as our own is to continue to be thankful in all circumstances no matter what side of the world we are in. Maybe saying out loud that something is good and really soaking it in is the best way to tell our hearts that everything is going to be okay and that God is kind and generous in the midst of transitions. Today it's a cool breeze and tomorrow.. well it just may be grilled fish and fresh papaya or something else that I am least expecting.
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