Endings And Beginnings

I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

It was a sunshine-soaked afternoon as the doors to Madison Elementary School burst open and families of the graduating sixth-grade class emerged. Temporarily blinded by the bright sunlight, we blinked our way down the sidewalk toward the small park for a postgraduation picnic. As I passed by the line of teachers and staff stretched along the walkway to wish their students well, a thousand memories floated through my mind.

My own furious blinking had more to do with my futile attempts to keep tears at bay as I said a silent goodbye to the community that had played a vital role in our family’s life. Beloved teachers and staff members had poured love into our children daily for six years, and I had so many delightful memories of music concerts, plays, and activity nights.

I knew I would feel a weird mix of grief and joy as I prepared for this day. Yet, the gut-punch of emotion as my youngest child chatted excitedly with his friends, all of them eager to move on to middle school and the increased independence it represents, still caught me a bit off guard. As I walked, I prayed, thanking God for all the life my family had lived in that building.

Standing on the cusp of a new adventure often requires goodbyes to something or someone you are leaving behind. Even the most exciting change, the most desperately anticipated new adventure, often has a thin thread of lament and grief woven inextricably into its fabric. And that’s okay. You often cannot have firsts without lasts, and pausing in that in-between place for a moment to acknowledge the complicated emotions associated with new beginnings and final endings is a way to honor the journey we are all on. But don’t linger. Move into that new undertaking, knowing that God is calling you forward on your faith journey, with new people to influence and new tasks to complete.

Julie

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Pause for a moment to prayerfully honor what God has done through the lasts you have experienced before casting your vision forward.