Saying Goodbye

It is hard to say goodbye when you know someone is entering into less than ideal conditions for a specified period of time. The difficulties from placing a life on hold are more than enormous.
We often start the list with the children who are affected. They will do without frequent relationship with very important individuals that are not there for them. There is also the community of friends and extended family that continues on and learns to live without the individual except in reference or casually asking how they are doing.
The lives lived in two separate worlds only connect at the point of deliberate maintenance of the relationship. The inconvenient phone calls interrupt schedules which both sides may feel the other should have known and honored. If those events are forgotten it may be viewed as a lack of concern for this individuals world.
How do you say goodby?
You just put your hand on their shoulder and you pray for them to go with God and for them to see His hand at work in their new situation. This matter of blessing someone with the presence of God and blessing of prayer is the greatest and most loving act you can do. Then you continue to pray for them and their family as you prove that the reason it was hard is that you are a true friend that truly sticks closer than a brother.