WORD
I sat in a staff meeting with a long face. It was noticeable with my supervisors comforting tone.
“You’re not doing well are you?” she asked.
I wasn’t.
My wife and I had just marched our daughter to the front lines; of elementary school. During the walk we silently reminisced of sacred moments that we shared. The first smile that created parental tears of joy. The first giggle caught on phone and shared with all that would watch. Her first word; not perfect but perfected enough:
“Da-da”
She said Daddy first!
We drew closer to her class line and slowed to a stop. She may not remember how tight we held her. We were clinging to moments we wanted to keep current. All of the newness was overwhelming. We freed her to get in line and watched her single-file shuffle into this school building. She nervously looked back as we waved and blew kisses until she was swallowed by the shadows of the hallway.
We weren’t ok.
With having to let go of time and accept all things new that came with an older daughter. Even a kindergartner.
I sat in a staff meeting with a long face.
My supervisor consoled,
“I definitely remember that feeling. I’d suggest you and your wife getting used to saying, “Hello and Goodbye” a lot more often.”
This simple suggestion wrecked me for the better. That day I expressed the mess that I was on paper through writing a new poem:
Hello Goodbye
I’ve also grown to embrace the beauty in the new. As uncomfortable as they may be, through the new joys, memories, heartbreaks, and moments we have a God that exists in them all. I’ve learned to experience the joy going through as many hellos and goodbyes as possible. It makes our relationship strong, rich, and that much more valuable. The same is with Christ. It makes our relationship with our creator strong, rich, and much more valuable!
Now, with three daughters, living in a new community, daughters in a new school, and my family plugging in to a new church…I’ve accepted the fact that new doesn’t have to equal negative. The “good ol’ days” can be today…everyday as a matter of fact.
The Psalmist reminds us,
“This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Although it may be easier than it sounds. May we find a sort of excitement in the things that we have to let go? May we find a sense of awe in the things we are yet to experience? Our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Let us rest assured He is with us on this wild journey as He uncovers the beauty in all things new!
(Excerpt , “Hello Goodbye” Poem)
Hello
1, 2, 3
Beautiful Britton baby girls
Goodbye free time
Goodbye sleep
Goodbye hairline
Hello God
What now?
Stages!
And more stages
Of life
Goodbye yesterdays
I remember you
Hello tomorrow
I welcome you
Hello Future
I'm fascinated by what you’re holding.
Hello Life
Your days are numbered
So I'm making you count.
Hello Death
One day you'll tag me
But you can't have me
When I say
Goodbye last breath
It's only goodbye here
Goodbye grief
Goodbye pain
Goodbye tears
Then it's
Hello
God
Hello heaven
Hello forever,
I'm Home!
MUSIC
When I seem to be getting overtaken by too much newness in my life I pause and reflect on God’s faithfulness throughout my life. Housefires’ “Faithfulness” is a song I can play and really just chill in God’s presence and soak in the reality of his faithfulness.
MEAL
I could eat breakfast for every stinking meal of the day. French toast is a great way to start the day. Want to embrace something new and crazy? How about Fruity Pebble French toast? If not that, there are 50+ French toast recipes…including grilled cheese French toast!
http://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/g2973/50-most-delish-french-toasts/?slide=6
PRAYER
Weather thing s are comfortable and old or uncomfortably new, I encourage you with this prayer:
God, this is the day that you have made. Help me to find joy in it. Help me to say hello to the beauty and newness of the things that come my way. Help me to say goodbye and rejoice in what you’ve done for me in the past. Above all, help me to find You in this day and rejoice in whatever becomes of it.
TIME
During the next week when you’re doing your regular routine, find something you can create new. Maybe it’s the layout of your room, office, route you take to work, place you sit at church. Maybe it’s as simple as changing the location of your chair in a common place that you share meals. Whatever you do, embrace the new perspective, the new angle, the things often unnoticed because of the sameness of yesterday.
Christopher Britton | @gr8poetry | gr8br1tton@me.com