DAY 27, JANUARY 28, 2023, HOW DO YOU SAY GOODBYE?
This morning, after my contemplation, I read Nonnie Jules’ blog posting for Day 26. After reading her poem, I went to the blog posting of Shirley Harris-Slaughter and read her Day 26 posting.
Shirley’s article is entitled How Do You Say Goodbye?
Her question, along with Nonnie’s poem, threw me into contemplativeness again.
John Donne and his Meditation 17 rose within me. Especially the line that says, “any man’s death diminishes me because I am involved in mankind and therefore never send to know for whom the bell toll; it tolls for thee.”
We are all a part of humanity, whether we accept that or not. No one can guarantee they will make it through the day or wake up the next morning. Yet, we treat life as something we dictate, which is sad.
How do I say goodbye is the question that Shirley asked.
I don’t have an answer to that question. Living on another continent, far away from my family and extended family, I do everything within my power to love them in the now with phone calls, text messages, video calls, and visits when I am in the USA.
I tell and show them that I love them every chance I get. Who knows if I will have the opportunity to say or show that tomorrow?
I want to know that whenever one of them leaves this world, if they go before me, and step into eternity, I will have given them the most precious gift I possess, which is to love.
Knowing I have loved them doesn’t take away the sadness or the pain, but it comforts me.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”*
(New International Version 2011, Zondevan, The Gospel According To John John 15:9-13)
(NONNIE JULES’ POSTING is linked to this posting, and Shirley’s article is linked. You are welcome to read both postings. The links will take you directly to their blog articles.)
My list of open items includes the following:
- Revising the first 10K of my new novel. It usually takes me at least four to six days to fix 10K. I like to send her my final draft so that she understands the direction I’m moving in.
- Answering emails and text messages, Daily
- Finishing the last revision of my first novel.
Have a lovely Saturday.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat Garcia
Hi Pat, I agree that giving our love to someone is far more important than many people realize. It’s crucial that we not take one another, or the time we have together, for granted. Thank you for a beautiful post. : )
Best wishes,
Donna M. Atwood
D. M. Atwood
https://www.dmatwood.com
Hi Pat. I just read Nonnie’s poem on Day 26 in response to a text I sent to her. Now your response hits me by surprise. Everything I wrote has been healing and calming for me. I appreciate the conversation my journey has generated.
I agree. All we can do is love our family and friends. Love is often overlooked, but it’s our most precious commodity.
Hi, Pat. You’re so right. We need to take every opportunity to express and show our love for everyone we care about. We must live out our faith and share it with whomever is open to hearing it, so that when it’s our turn to go Home, they’ll remember and have hope that we’ll see each other again. I prefer, “See you soon,” to “Goodbye,” even when it’s the last time we’ll see each other this side of Heaven. When someone leaves us, it doesn’t stop the ache or fill the hole our loved ones left behind, but it does give us comfort.
Blessings!
Patty
Hi Patty,
So true. It gives us comfort. How sad it is when our loved ones die and we didn’t tell them we love them.
Shalom aleichem
Hi, Pat! It’s always a good idea, no matter how busy we think we are, to keep in touch with our dearest family and friends, because once they are gone… there are no do-overs. I’m glad that poem gave you pause. It was so random, I’m surprised that it was so well-received as the comments would suggest.
We have no guarantees of a tomorrow, which is why the importance of our todays loom so large.
Thanks, Pat!
http://www.nonniewrites.wordpress.com
Beautiful post, Pat! I also don’t know the answer to how to say goodbye, but like you, I focus on saying hello, on sharing my love every day, and on making sure those I care about know I love them. If their journey ends abruptly, I want to know they knew they were loved. It’s all we really have control over – sharing our love.
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
You’re so right, Pat. Tomorrow is never guaranteed. Love, however, I believe is forever.
When human connection is difficult–or impossible–we have our divine advocate. I’m glad you stay in touch with family and friends digitally. Thanks for the links to Nonnie and Shirley’s blog. You are kind to share! 😀