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Goodbye, World, Goodbye!

By Theresa Huff
June 26, 2006

Today I went to meet my son, Jonathan, for lunch.  He had to leave to go for an Army physical at 1:00 p.m.  As I left the mall parking lot, he was standing in front of the Army recruiting office waving goodbye.  Now this is my 22-year-old "baby boy"—all 6 feet, 225 pounds of him—and he was considering leaving home for the first time.  Needless to say, my eyes weren't quite dry. 

Then I thought about us as Christians bidding this world goodbye—no more troubles, no more sickness, no more pain, and no more tears.  Why do we as humans feel that we don't want to take that final trip when "going up yonder" means a much better lifestyle?  As an alternative, we will have peace, joy, and happiness untold.  Bidding goodbye sounds better all the time! 

The thought of seeing all those who have gone before us, including my mom and dad, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, make leaving begin to seem just a little easier.  Most of all, we will get to see Jesus face to face.  Not only to worship, praise, and adore, but also to finally ask all those questions we have wanted to ask for so long.  And then . . . the tears are gone and we will smile at the sound of, "My child, welcome home."  Oh yeah, goodbye, world, goodbye!

As Paul said, "For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face; now I know in part, but then shall I know even as also I am known" (I Corinthians 13:12).

© 2006, Theresa Huff

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Theresa Huff lives in Bryan, Texas, with her husband, Glen, and children, Jonathan and Melody, and their three dogs.  She is a pediatric nurse.