Tonight Virginia and I attended the annual World Ministry Center employee Christmas party.  I think that there are between 65-80 full or part-time workers that work at the "Free Methodist Church HQ," –all great people.  Many of them attend one of the six Free Methodist Churches in the Indianapolis area.

Our girls (Sarah, Rebekah, and Bethany) had a great time with my A/A’s daughter Kiran.  Jennifer (my admin. asst.) has worked with me nearly all five years here.  She and her husband (and Kiran) live about 70 miles north in Kokomo, where Russ is pastor of our FM church in that town.  Kiran is two, sweet and cute, and seemed to thoroughly enjoy spending time with three older girls … it was not their first time together.

At the Christmas party, I realized it was my last event with the whole group.  Good-bye is a normal part of life often intensified by the love and friendship shared in Jesus.  While I’d never withhold myself relationally, I just don’t enjoy saying those words.  However, the sting of ‘good-bye’ has become a great reminder for me to thank God for His kindness and graciousness in giving those precious friendships in the first place.  They’re each like a gift under the tree at Christmas; individually wrapped, holding something special inside that I have the privilege of sharing for a while.

We’ve said good-bye time and time again, literally all over the world.  If I dwell on the pain of separation, the loss spirals me downward.  But if each time I feel the sting I thank the Lord for the ‘gift’ of that person, experience, or relationship, I find it a bit easier to let go.  Of course I’ll always cherish those ‘gifts’ in my heart; sometimes the Lord allows for those friendships and connections to be renewed, other times I know the sweet reunion won’t happen this side of heaven.

Just yesterday we learned of another ‘good-bye’ that we must say:  Virginia’s grandmother went to be with Jesus.  She had just turned 100 years old this past September.  We’re glad that she knew the Savior, and will have this Christmas in His presence!

Some of our friends at the party tonight expressed mixed feelings about our departure.  It’s absolutely wonderful to be able to share with confidence our sense of God’s leading, and that we just can’t wait to be with our new church family called Lakeside!