Have you ever had to say goodbye to someone you love?
Saying goodbye to my college-aged son was not easy. It hasn’t gotten any easier. Just recently I went to visit him, yet when the time came, it was a very tear-filled goodbye.
After he left, I poured my heart out to the Lord. I’m excited to see what the Lord is doing in and through my son, but my mother’s heart is sad to say goodbye. As I took that before the Lord, He showed me a picture. He reminded me that He had to say goodbye to His son.
God can relate to our pain
God said goodbye to His son when He let Him come to earth to be born as a baby, and to begin His ministry here.
But even more than that, God had to say goodbye to His son, Jesus, when He let Jesus die for us on the cross.
I’ve known that before, but as a mother who had to say goodbye to her son, that pierced my heart in a way it never has before. It pierced my heart in a new and fresh way as I thought about the sacrifice that God made for me and for you, that He would willingly say goodbye to His son in Heaven, for us.
God sacrificed out of love for us.
God reminded me that’s what love does. Love sacrifices. Love makes great sacrifice.
In the grand scheme of things, it’s a little sacrifice to send my son to college, and to pay for his college, because I know there are things for him in his future by doing so, it is a great sacrifice that God made sending His son here, knowing ultimately He would have to die. That’s a great sacrifice He made because that’s what love does.
We never know how long we are going to have loved ones around. I was in Florida staying in a garage apartment owned by a friend’s parents. They are the sweetest couple ever. But it has kind of made me miss my own parents. Neither are still living. It has made me realize, we don’t know how long our loved ones are going to be with us.
We never know how much more time we’ll have with someone.
Saying goodbye to my son, I thought, “You never know how much more time you have with others.” I don’t know how many days I have left on this earth. I don’t know if he’ll ever live at home under our roof again. I don’t know how much more time my son has left. Only God knows. We don’t know.
So, take the time today, this week, to make sure your loved ones know you love them. Tell them you love them. That’s what love does.
While you’re at it, take time to reflect on the great sacrifice God made, because He loves you. That’s why He said goodbye to His son and let Him come to earth, knowing that He would also die for me and for you. Oh, how God loves you!
Because of Him, #HopePrevails!
Related Reading:
How Do I Love You? 8 Ways to Demonstrate Love
Ask Dr. B: Truth For When You Feel Unloved
So appreciate this message today!!! Thinking a lot about our son and his family soon to leave this country to go overseas for 6 or 7 years. We will have Skype and other communication tools but it will be a long time till I can wrap my arms around all 3 of them. For a mom that is a challenge but with your help through this message I will choose to love, pray and trust Father with them. I love and appreciate you so much!!! Thank you for sharing your heart and life with all of us who need your encouragement.
Karen, as a mother, I know the pain of letting go, even when we know our children are doing what is right and what they’ve been called to do. I pray that during this time away, that it will be a time for your son and his family, as well as you and your husband to grow even closer to the Lord, for He is truly all we have that we can really rely on. But the good news is, He is enough!
What a great reminder, Michelle! It reminds me of Matthew 5:46-47. Jesus challenges us to love those who are difficult to love. That’s a sacrifice, too. But it’s what sets us apart from the world.
Oh yes, Jana, that is a very applicable Scripture, and yes, it is a sacrifice to love those who are difficult to love. But perhaps those are the ones who are most wounded and most in need of His love. In myself, I can’t do it, but with Jesus in me, I can.
What a beautiful post! Thank you so much for sharing this! We need reminders about the Lord’s love and the brevity of life so that we remember to take time demonstrate love to those who touch our lives!
Yes Cheryl, I’ve been spending more time lately concentrating on how I can show love to those around me while they are, in fact, still around me. I don’t want to leave anything unsaid. We just never know how much time we have.
I cried every time I dropped off one of my sons at college. Even now, good byes are never easy. Reflecting on God’s great sacrifice is a good idea. Thank you for the wonderful reminder.
Laurie, you make me feel so much better. I just visited my college son for a long weekend, and still, even after a couple of years, I had to shed a few tears knowing that he would likely not be home until Christmas. While I love him and am so proud of him for pursuing his dream and his God-given call, I miss him terribly. But that is simply because I love him!
What a beautiful time of reflection. It is definitely hard to say goodbye. What a comfort it is that the Lord gave you that picture of such love that was given to us, such sacrifice!! Visiting from #freshmarketfriday
April,
Being able to put things in perspective and realize that God understands made such a difference to me.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope we see you again sometime soon.