Today’s the day.

Today’s the day when I pack up all my stuff and am escorted to the airport, wishing my eyes were equipped with windshield wipers. Not that I really need to see the road, however, since I’ve not only lived here before, but have also made this particular trek from this particular house way too many times.

I don’t use the word ‘hate’ all that often. It’s such an extreme word, and its meaning has been watered down almost as much as its counterpart ‘love.’ (I mean, I’m not all that fond of liver and onions, but hate? I don’t think so, so why say it?) However, there is one thing I do hate: leaving this house…even though I love (and I do mean love) going to my own. It’s a quandary for my heart every time, because it is so evenly divided, it doesn’t really know which way to feel.

So it feels both.

And it’s awful.

As intense as my longing is for my husband and our regular, day-in, day-out lives, my heart so easily settles into the rhythm of the little people here. They bring out the little girl in my own heart who doesn’t have a lot of grown-up responsibilities, and remembers how to play and laugh and learn. My time here gives me another opportunity to help mold a human being, to do my part to create a lasting legacy, and make sure there will come a time when we will all be together again, after this life, for days and years. For an eternity.

Until such a time as the Lord decides to bring us all together in one place this side of heaven, I will continue facing down this day with deep thankfulness to be able to do it in the first place. I will praise the Name of the One who gave me a husband who graciously grants me the time away when I need it, and to whom is so wonderful to come home. I will also lift up the faceless many who may read this, who make this same trek from their own families, and suffer a bad case of the farewell-heart themselves. I bet they’re as glad as I that all these excruciating goodbyes pave the road to heaven, because even if we never all live in the same place here on earth, at least there’s a long hello on the horizon.

“We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.” Psalm 78:4 ESV

“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children—” Deuteronomy 4:9 ESV

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NASB

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV

“There is more than enough room in my Father’s home.If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” John 14:2-3 NLT