It's So Hard to Say Goodbye

"So I'll take with me the memories

To be my sunshine after the rain.

It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday."

To the unfortunate few who are not familiar with these words, they are a part of the lyrics to the classic Boys II Men song by the same name. My high school graduating class of '92 based their entire theme, It's So Hard to Say Goodbye, on this song. At prom and Grad Night, tears began to flow as soon as the DJ played the first few notes. We imagined ourselves talented a cappella singers who could riff with the best, but I'm sure it really sounded more like a room full of dying cats. We swayed to the music, promising to keep in touch.

Until the advent of Facebook, I had no idea what had become of most of that class. (Yes, I can remember a time when we didn't know what people were up to unless we wrote them a letter -- gasp!)

People move in and out of our lives continuously -- some acquaintances that we mostly forget, but others leave a mark on us that lasts.

Our church announced yesterday that our family pastor was called to be the campus pastor of a new church plant about 200 miles away. While our family and our church is excited about what God has in store for their family in this new phase of their lives, we are terribly sad, too.

We have known this pastor for 13 years. He is a godly man who seeks to follow Christ with everything in him . . . plus he's got a pretty great sense of humor. More than that, he's had an impact on both of my sons. He has loved them, sacrificing his time and energy. He has taught them, helping them to grow in their relationships with the Lord. He has lived out the verse Paul shared: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭11:1‬ (‭ESV)

We will miss him, more than we can put into words. We will miss his wife, a wonderful example of a godly wife and mother. We will miss his three sweet children.

But we choose to trust God with our futures. We thank Him for the time we were blessed to spend with those that leave a mark on us. We wear the marks they leave on us with pride, realizing we are better people for having known them. We treasure the impact they have had on us. We commit to pray for them as they impact others.

And we look forward to the next person, the next family we will have the privilege of knowing.

Boys II Men had it right; it is so hard to say goodbye.