Trusting God When Fortitude Fails You

Finding Peace in the Presence of God

Hello, Goodbye

I have recently spent time with my beautiful aunt and godmother. She has memory loss and most likely didn’t know who I was but she has the gift of graciousness so it felt like she knew. She told stories about my dad and it was such a blessing. Even though she wasn’t aware my father had passed years ago and I know she wasn’t relating those stories to me, it was sweet. I sat there listening and thinking that the moments in the lives of our loved ones will become treasured stories for us. But it is hard not to be sad knowing the precious story teller won’t be around forever.

Later that evening as I was trying to recapture the moment and the words she spoke, the Beatles song, “Hello,Goodbye” started playing in my head. I laughed at myself for having such a distracted mind but remembered an article I read years ago about the song.

Paul McCartney said the song was advocating for the positive side of duality. I thought about the duality of life and death. Death brings sadness and life brings happiness. I began to cry knowing my aunt’s time on earth is coming to a close. I cried for my cousins and all of the family and friends that will miss her. I then cried for everyone who has lost a loved one. After a good cry, I remembered a Bible verse.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8 TLV

So between my tears and the Beatles I realized in her passing, my aunt will not be sad, she will be in the glory of God. And the long and winding road (😉) that is my thought process, brought me back to the fact that the sadness falls only on the living.

While we are saying goodbye to our loved ones, God is saying hello. We are crying tears of goodbye as God is wiping their tears away.

“He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more. Nor shall there be mourning or crying or pain any longer, for the former things have passed away.””
‭‭The Revelation‬ ‭21‬:‭4‬ ‭TLV‬


“We say goodbye but God says hello” 😊

While we wait to see them again we can recall their stories and sweet adages. While visiting my aunt that day we looked for the chapel. It was closed at the time but she gave us some dear advice.

“Whenever you see a chapel you should stop in and say a little prayer” From my dear Aunt D ❤️

ginajamespaul's avatar

Posted by:

ginajamespaul

I love God and am loved by Him. I am a wife, mother and writer. I have spent most of my life keeping God at a distance. Of course He was always with me. In a world where we may feel we can never measure up, God tells us we are wonderfully and fearfully made. I had so much guilt and shame from a traumatic childhood experience. The trauma became greater when I told a trusted adult who did not believe my story. Guilt and shame left me feeling unworthy. I felt that I was nothing more than a sinner. I tried to live “right” but found it easier to just accept who I thought I would always be. Giving my life to Jesus gave me freedom but I held on to my old beliefs far too long. I hope to encourage others to seek God in all things and trust in Him and not in this world. The sins of others and your own sins do not define you. Accept God’s gift of grace through Jesus, who is Grace. “For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” Romans 6:14 TLV

2 responses to “Hello, Goodbye”

  1. Joanna Falk Avatar
    Joanna Falk

    So beautiful! Thank you Gina and I will lift your Aunt up in my prayers tonight! Joanna

    Like

    Reply
    1. ginajamespaul Avatar
      ginajamespaul

      Thank you lovely Joanna. Miss you!

      Like

      Reply

Leave a comment

About Me

I love God who loves me. I am a wife and mother. I have spent most of my life keeping God at a distance. Of course He was always right here with me. In a world where we may feel we can never measure up, God tells us “we are fearfully and wonderfully made”. I had so much guilt and shame that I developed from a childhood experience. Because of my guilt and shame I often felt unworthy and sinful. I often tried to do the “ right thing”, but I found it easier to just accept who I thought I was and would always be. Giving my life to Jesus gave me freedom but I held on to my old beliefs far too long. I hope to encourage others to seek God in all things and trust in Him and not the world.
“ For sin will not have authority over you; because you are not under legalism but under grace.” Romans 6:14 CJB

Recent Posts

Newsletter