This week marks the anniversary of my divorce, and per
usual, I find myself feeling reflective.
I think about sitting in an office surrounded by people waiting for me
to sign what had become my life reduced to some pieces of paper, wondering why
I was crying and needing tissues.
However, unlike many other times, I find myself reflecting in a bit of a
different way this time.
This week, we said goodbye to our Sunday school
teacher. We’re sending him and his
family off to a new venture they’re starting in a different city. They also happen to be basically the only
friends I’ve made here in more than a year, save a former coworker whom I see
occasionally, so this goodbye was doubly hard for me. A few weeks ago, I had dinner with the
family. While we watched the kids play
outside, I said to my teacher, “I never thought I could have one Sunday school
teacher who was so great at combining philosophy and humor with the truth of
God’s Word, but you’re actually my second one.”
His wife said something like this to me, “Well, you never thought you’d
have one or two, so who knows: maybe
you’ll have a third!”
Since then, as I’ve prepared for my last visit with them, my
last Sunday, my last goodbye, I’ve realized:
“goodbye”s are so hard and no fun, but we’d never have them if we didn’t
have “hello”s.
If we never had the fantastic friends who make us laugh in
the midst of heartache or send us encouraging notes just when we need it; if it
weren’t for the teachers and coaches who inspire us to work hard and make something
better of ourselves; if we didn’t have children who make us do things we don’t
want to do to provide for them every day; if there weren’t pastors and small
group/Bible study leaders who encourage us to be more like Christ, we’d never
have to part ways with anyone.
Although the end of my marriage was completely devastating
for me, and I was blindsided by all the trauma that followed as results of it,
I can say with absolute certainty: I
wouldn’t trade the lessons I’ve learned since those events transpired. I can never repay the ways I’ve been blessed
or number the miraculous times I’ve seen God provide. I wish that I wouldn’t have had to say so
many goodbyes in the last few years, but I would never trade all the hellos God
has given me. I can’t imagine my life
without the incredible people placed in it; each one I believe, hand-picked for
me by the Almighty, loving Father.
