What if it's too painful to say goodbye? This is the day to serve his podcast with Anthony Engini. We need a poo. Goodbye.
Oh, no, please. Can't we go back to page one and do it all over again? Well, perhaps you recovered a bit, right? When he then said, how lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.
Well, of course, it's easier said than done, right? To embrace a mindset of positivity and gratitude when you're hurting so bad. But try, we must, and get real, we must too. The reality is Dr.
John Maxwell tells us that we overrate the value of decision making and we underrate the impact of decision management. So, okay, I decided to say goodbye. But now I'm dying. Does that make it happen?
See, every goodbye is a loss. And every loss brings about grief and whether it's a relationship or work assignment, a way of life amidst this pandemic, a long-believe promise, even a dream you persevered to hold on to for so long, it can be quite painful to say goodbye. First of all, if this refers to you, I am sorry for your loss. I grieve with you.
And I pray you manage the pain. But please relent not on the goodbye. If you firmly believe the shorter pain is worth it, considering the longer-term disaster that would have happened by staying, hold on, what can be the guy? Six things to consider when the pain is too much.
As you say goodbye. Six things, number one, be accountable. Be desperate for good company. One, two, three people who can help you through this process.
Even just knowing they're praying for you, trust me, it's already a pain reliever. Number two, embrace mixed feelings, mixed emotions, even contradictions. But, but, let not the emotion question the decision. Number three, recognize this is a face.
Shock even anger, right? In the beginning, depression can even set in. But by God's grace, and as you go through the process, you will move towards what is called acceptance, even hope. I recall a heartbreak, oh my gosh, in my earlier years, too painful, too long.
Led me to find a solution that truly healed, and that helped me make up for lost years. Well, I'm referring to coming back, you know, home to God, and establishing a deeper relationship with Him. He was the only one. It was just too painful, it was just too long.
In Joel 2, verses 25 to 26, I'll make up for the years of the Locust, the great Locust devastation, locust savage, locust deadly, fierce locusts, locusts of doom, that great locust invasion I sent your way. You'll eat your fill of good food. You'll be full of praises to your God, the God who has set you back on your heels and wonder. Never again will my people be despised.
Whew, I will make up for it, he says. It's a face. Number four, express yourself. Anything written, journal, you know, spoken off, prayed through, demonstrated, sang about, even cried about, gives the person in pain not just a release, which is important in stress management, but also a bigger and more complete perspective.
Even if the object is no longer around, you can express your goodbyes. And more than once, and you're forgiven too, right? Even without the presence, on your own, saying goodbye again and again, forgiving again and again and again, eventually setting you free. Number five, allow regular times of flow, flow, and I follow W, that state of being where you immerse yourself in something that engages your whole being without stressing you out, without burning you out.
It could be running, is it gardening, grooming a pet, sketching, is it driving around? Find your flow. Number six, let the pain stretch you, perfect you and transform you. Job 23 verse 10, one of my favorites, after he has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
Someone else said, every parting is a form of death, as every reunion is a type of heaven. So be accountable, embrace mixed feelings, recognize this as a face, express yourself, allow regular times of flow, let the pain stretch you, perfect you and transform you. That's B-E-R-E-A-L-B-Real, B-Real, my friend. To those who are still dealing with pain of loss, especially a dear one who may have passed on, from Tom Petty, you and I will meet again when we are least expecting it.
One day in some far off place, I will recognize your face. I won't say goodbye, my friend. For you and I, we'll meet again.