One of my favorite ancient movies that I never watched as a kid is The Sound of Music. It’s set in Austria during the time of World War II and tells of a family who must flee the Nazi army. One night, the kids from young to old are saying farewell to a party given by the father, Georg Von Trapp. They sing a song to say good night.
There’s a sad sort of clanging from the clock in the hall
And the bells in the steeple too
And up in the nursery an absurd little bird
Is popping out to say “cuckoo” Cuckoo, cuckoo
Regretfully they tell us Cuckoo, cuckoo
But firmly they compel us Cuckoo, cuckoo
To say goodbye… Cuckoo! … to you
So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, good night
I hate to go and leave this pretty sight
So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu
Adieu, adieu, to yieu and yieu and yieu
So long, farewell, au revoir, auf wiedersehen
The real-life story is different than the movie version, but I’ve only seen and not read… [Source]
I’m Not Good at Goodbyes…
I’m never good at goodbyes… but when there is a hope that you will see one another again, sooner if not later, then the time of spending those final moments are filled with hope for the future and thus endurable.
Otherwise…
It’s that choking sob that cannot come out
and sort of gets caught in the back of your throat.
It’s those tears that will not come
because you know it will be impossible to turn them off.
It’s feeling like you’ve not said what you should say,
and there is now not another moment…
When there is hope for a future reunion, then a “goodbye” is better phrased as “So Long!” I’m okay with this.
Goodbyes sound so permanent. Scary. Let’s simply think it through that we will see each other again.
Goodbyes sound so permanent. Scary. Let's simply think it through that we will see each other again. Click To TweetI remember saying goodbye to my kids as they grew up and left home. It was probably the most difficult thing I’ve faced. My son left while I had someone who needed my attention and I failed to give him a royal send-off. My daughter flew away and I drove her car to Seattle, but it was so difficult turning my back and leaving for Alaska.
Somewhere, along the way, we’ve all experienced sad goodbyes. But I choose to live with hope. That’s my faith working, and my love expressing my faith and hope.
Faith, Hope, Love
The Apostle Paul writes it so eloquently, and I love this translation.
I may speak in the languages of humans and of angels.
But if I don’t have love, I am a loud gong or a clashing cymbal.
I may have the gift to speak what God has revealed, and I may understand all mysteries and have all knowledge.
I may even have enough faith to move mountains.
But if I don’t have love, I am nothing.
I may even give away all that I have and give up my body to be burned. But if I don’t have love, none of these things will help me.
Love is… (my translation!)
Love is patient, kind, isn’t jealous, nor does it sing its own praises.
It isn’t arrogant, nor rude, it doesn’t think about itself, nor is it irritable, nor does it keep track of wrongs.
It isn’t happy when injustice is done, but it is happy with the truth.
Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up.
Love never comes to an end.
Gifts…
There is the gift of speaking what God has revealed,
but it will no longer be used.
There is the gift of speaking in other languages,
but it will stop by itself.
There is the gift of knowledge,
but it will no longer be used.
Our knowledge is incomplete and our ability to speak what God has revealed is incomplete.
But when what is complete comes,
then what is incomplete will no longer be used.
Now I Understand
When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, and reasoned like a child.
When I became an adult, I no longer used childish ways.
Now we see a blurred image in a mirror.
Then we will see very clearly.
Now my knowledge is incomplete.
Then I will have complete knowledge
as God has complete knowledge of me.
So these three things remain: faith, hope, and love.
But the best one of these is love.
(1 Corinthians 13:1-13 GW)
Love is the Greatest
Store up and exercise your Faith. Live in the realm of Hope. However, expressing your Love is by far the best thing you can do.
Your faith may be shaken. Your hope dims. But love will conqueror everything. Why? It’s not your love that is most important. It’s His Love. And He Loves Every one of you!