"Good-Byes"

All good-byes affect us,

For better or for worse,

And that is just the reason,

I chose to write this verse.

Good-byes can be painful,

When we to loved ones give,

And harder still the parting,

When for their souls we live.

Good-byes can be shocking,

When it’s something we must do,

‘Cause going on the same way,

Is unhealthy and untrue.

Good-byes can be healing,

For the one who needs good-bye,

To some old evil habit,

That can cause your heart to die.

But for those who go to heaven,

Our good-byes will never last,

‘Cause when our time is over,

And our lives are past.

We’ll greet them with Jesus,

Reunited with our kin,

If by faith in saving grace,

He will let us in.

Give all good-byes to Jesus,

Let Him take control,

We know He can be trusted,

To heal and make us whole.

“…I focus on one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race…” (Phil. 3:13-14, NLT)

Saying good-bye to the past is important. When Paul wrote he was “forgetting” the past, that’s what he was saying. Not that he could literally forget the past because that’s impossible. But he would not allow the past to control the future. The negatives of the past must be surrendered to Jesus, including past sins, hurts, disappointments and regrets. We must make peace with where we’ve been and should have gone. Also, the positives of the past must be dealt with constructively. Sometimes we magnify the blessing of yesterday to the point that we miss today’s blessing. Say good-bye to all of it, and let Jesus take control of today and tomorrow. If we’re intentional about surrendering control, Jesus will be intentional about empowering us to do His will.

Lord, help us say good-bye to the past, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Tim Cox, timcox.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Tim, and God bless you.