No More Goodbyes

...."He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

Yesterday my brother and his family left to head back to their home. I know they have to go as they have jobs, a home, responsibilities, and other things that have rooted them in that place.

By far the greatest difficulty in living far away from family is the goodbyes. These stink! As the flurry of activity increases, one can't help but watch the clock tick down to the appointed departure time. We have spent enough to time together to become reacquainted, to be re-joined together and the pending separation tears that apart.

In our family leaving is almost always accompanied by tears...brave tears...tears that sometimes embarrass us...tears that sometimes frustrate us...tears that seem beyond our control.

I long for the day when there are no more tears. I long for the time when there are no more goodbyes but only joyous reunions. As I hugged my brother before he left, I whispered in his ear..."someday...someday....there will be no more good byes...".

One day heaven will be our only home. No more tears. No more crying. No more death. No more pain. No more mourning. That is a promise worth holding onto....

grace and peace...

Photo credit - littlefriendsphoto.com