My mother in-law, Nancy Shackelford, quoted to me a saying she recently read, “I’m learning to recognize the “good” in good-bye.” When she read that to me, I had an epiphany concerning certain things that were happening in my life.
I’ve never been a “good-bye” kind of person. I hate them; they can be very painful. Some people have the ability to handle them well, but not I! I really dislike them, and by doing so, I’ve left a few open areas in my life that need healthy closures.
Good-byes are simply life’s transitions. And until we recognize the importance of embracing transitions, we remain frozen in the lifetime of our transitions. We have to allow the good-byes to do their work. Closure and finality are necessary components to life’s progression. And the key is to recognize all the “GOOD” that will come from the good-bye.
Life must go on. I’ve realized that we all have to grow up and move on. I’ve realized that not all relationships remain the same and that not all close friendships remain close. And there are times when a healthy good-bye is necessary. New seasons in our lives cannot afford to be tainted by the residue of old seasons. We should leverage the wisdom and knowledge of the old season without allowing ourselves to wallow in it.
So, what is it that you’re holding on to that needs a healthy good-bye? It’s ok… let it go and try to see the “good” in the good-bye. I sure have. I promise you, there is life after good-byes! God’s plan for our lives is always bigger and better than what we feel we need to hold on to.
