The Long Goodbye

The last couple of weeks have been strange. First, as I mentioned before, Micah was accepted into the Interim Operator Program with Chick-fil-a. He is at training in Atlanta right now. It is very exciting and humbling to have been given this opportunity. He is being treated very well and enjoying meeting so many people within the company. After this training at the end of July, we hope he will be assigned to go to an Interim Position at a store. This would be anywhere. Before we all left Louisville for these three weeks away, we started preparing to go. We don't know how soon he will know where he will be relocated, so this has made us both consider seriously the way we speak to friends when we see them.

We moved to Louisville 8 years ago. There are many friends, especially those we met at SBTS, that have already moved on. There are also many friends from Bagdad (KY) to Shepherdsville we have been trying to see, maybe for the last time or at least the last time for a long time. For all our friends who are believers, Micah even began using the phrase, "If not before, we'll see you on the other side!" I have thought about this at length as you can imagine. What a hope we have in eternity to spend with those who love Jesus! This isn't a profound conclusion- as I have believed this for a long time. But the reality of it in our present situation is sobering and comforting. I have been convicted of all the times I take for granted either time I have or will have in the company of friends and family alike. I was especially convicted when I watched my husband go through security at the airport before boarding a plane for Atlanta. We are all in the hands of our Creator as we walk on earth and look beyond. Goodbyes are difficult and sad but ultimately, they are only temporal.

He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

One day in the fullness of time, we will know the reason for every part of our journey including our time with each of you! To our dear Louisville friends, if we don't see you again, we pray we see you on the other side. For friends all over the US, we may be headed to a CFA near you!