Saying Goodbye

Even in laughter, the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief. Proverbs 14:13, NIV

When do you look forward to an ending?  

I write romance, and in this genre, Cinderella endings are expected.

When I completed a non-writing project last week, I heaved a huge blissful sigh of relief, but closure is not welcome in all circumstances.

Several farewells came to my attention this past week and few produced happily-ever-after, halleluiah finishes.  When modifications in relationships or circumstances occur, our departures often contain a mixture of poignant, angry or sad emotions.

I heard Rush Limbaugh a few days ago talk about parting with his beloved pet. He loved the little cat and found it difficult to tell the audience about his loss.   When my mom’s adored cocker spaniel died, she vowed to never again love another animal.  For her, a potential devotion failed to merit the unimaginable grief of a future bereavement.

A woman emailed me yesterday and reminded me of a three year anniversary—the date her marriage ended in divorce. Although time healed most of her wounds, a song or a photograph still haunts her mind.

During a conversation with a man this last week, I learned he waited for a phone call to determine if his job would be terminated.

Last night, a teenager phoned. I could barely understand the conversation for her sobs. “I can’t take this relationship any longer. What can I do?” Leaving a friendship is not easy even though it is the best for all involved.

One of my dear friend’s husband succumbed after a long illness.  Have you read The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler?  The author penned it during his wife’s extended illness. Knowing everyday may be the last with the love of your life brings about an indescribable pain.

Today I say goodbye to my physician—the best one I ever had. Changes in government policies and regulations triggered him into early retirement. This man, with God’s help and direction, restored me to health many years ago when circumstances looked as though such a thing could not be possible. How can I express my gratitude when I hug him the final time?

We cope with loss in our own way. Some people lose weight—others gain pounds. A few turn to alcohol or drugs. Certain folk take to the bed while others bury themselves in a flurry of activity. Several blame God—or maybe themselves for the monumental emptiness.

Under most circumstance, goodbye is not a welcome word to extend to those we care about—even if it is for the best. We do not welcome a change or loss in our financial situation.

It’s just part of life.

How we respond to it is our choice.

“I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong…but time and chance happen to them all.  Moreover, no man knows when his hour will come.” Ecclesiastes: 9:11-12