GOODBYE 2011
Repost from last year.
It’s over… no sign of Christmas at our house. It looks like it never happened, although we have some pictures with dates and all to prove it did.
Chalk up another victory for me in my battle against the Christmas tree. I thought about tapping out a couple times, but I sucked it up and walked away with another victory. I had to get extra tough on him this year. He seems to fight harder every year from being sent back to the garage in his box.
I hope I didn’t hurt him too bad… I’ll know next year if he doesn’t light up, I ended his career. That ole’ tree is a bit like me. He’s getting older, a sight stiffer, and he leans to one side more than he used to.
I said goodbye to him for another year. I’ve said goodbye to a lot of things in my life. Some good, some I didn’t want to say goodbye to.
Some of the stupid things I did when I was younger I don’t miss. When I said goodbye to some of them I even said, “good riddance.” Truth is I probably wouldn’t have said goodbye to any of them if it weren’t for the change of heart directed by God.
That change of heart is really a change of thinking. That new thinking the Bible calls wisdom, I like to call, “a heavenly perspective.”
I use that perspective to consider some of the goodbyes in this life. We all said goodbye to 2011 Saturday morning. Some of us were awake to send it off. Some said goodbye before they went to sleep.
My little one and I said goodbye to 2011 with a bang… Literally. We stood out in the freezing midnight air lighting fireworks in the middle of the driveway.
The years are like those fireworks. They burn bright, fast, and then they’re gone… Many people come in and out of our lives over the course of a year. Sometimes we are connected by circumstances or fate for several years. Occasionally we get decades.
Often when we part ways or say goodbye it’s forever in this physical life. Unfortunately there have been people in my life that most likely thought, “good riddance” when we parted ways. I suppose that would be OK if it were for the right reasons. I’m certain that’s not always been the case.
Change is inevitable in this life. We change before we’re born in the womb and don’t stop changing until we breathe our last. We say goodbye to childhood, middle age, and finally old age if we’re lucky or blessed.
Those are the major goodbyes, but we also have the minor goodbyes. We leave our family members for the work day, vacation, college, and when they leave home. It varies from a kiss to an, “I love you,” “Have a good day,” “Be good,” “Be careful,” and maybe an “I’ll see you ย soon”!
As the seasons change so do our lives. With changes come the ever present “goodbyes.” After a parting or goodbye what impact will we have on other peoples lives? Will our existence and interaction have been a positive or negative influence.
Will those people who touched the fabric of our lives remember us as strong, compassionate people of God, or typical humans that blend with the masses and have no lasting memorable traits?
The majority of people are scared of goodbyes. To the lost people who don’t know God, goodbye is the end. For us who know God we don’t look forward to the goodbyes, but we have no fear of them.
Our paths lead across this physical life and cross over into the next dimension. Our goodbyes are temporary.
Where ever your path leads you in 2012 may you be blessed and strong.
Whether our paths cross this year or in the Great Beyond, I’ll look forward to seeing you. We’ll have a nice chat and a pat each other on the back, maybe even a hug.
I think Roy Rogers said it a little more eloquently,
“Happy trails to you”…”Till we meet again.”
Goodbye 2011…
bill (cycleguy)
Monday, January 2, 2012 @ 3:20 am
I’ll join you floyd. I prefer not to spend my days looking into the rear-view mirror.
Floyd
Monday, January 2, 2012 @ 10:33 am
That is an honor Bill. And thanks for being the person who is making a difference in the life of so many.
Hazel
Monday, January 2, 2012 @ 11:41 pm
Bidding some years good by is easier than at other times. I like Roy Rogers “Happy Trails to you.” That could work for our coming year. May we find joy in all we do whether it is with our family, at work, church, or blogging. That Old song Until we meet again is ringing through my mind. See you soon! and although the kids probably don’t say it any more, “see you Later Alligator.”
Floyd
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 @ 6:58 am
Thanks Hazel. Yeah, they still say it, not as often as we did, but they still do. Somethings are timeless… Till we meet again…
bill (cycleguy)
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 @ 3:30 am
One question floyd. Freezing midnight air? In Arizona? It was 16 this morning at 4:30 when i left the house. now…that is cold!
Floyd
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 @ 7:01 am
Yeah, sometimes. While it is perfect here right now, the last couple of weeks it’s been down in the twenties at night. A bunch of our plants have been burned by the freeze. It seems even colder when your out there and not really dressed for it!
Lisa notes
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 @ 8:27 am
A good closing post to a year, Floyd. (And you already made your Christmas stuff disappear? I’m jealous. I’m sitting here still looking at my Christmas tree and dreading the process ahead. ha)
Some changes I hate; others I look forward to. Wish I had control of both, but it’s better that God does and not me. What a crazy world this would be if I were in control. ๐
May you and your family have a blessed 2012!
Floyd
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 @ 9:41 am
Thanks Lisa. It made for a grueling day, but glad it’s all down! God bless you and yours this year as well. It would be a crazy world if you were in control, but I know for sure we’d have good music!
Nancy
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 @ 8:46 am
Hi Floyd! Good post! I sate for some moments before the year changed and just contemplated some of the changes that have come, albeit a little wistfully for some of them.
“Change”, I wish, would happen a bit more slowly at times. Others, a person jsut wants to hurry up and be done already!
When I was a kid, I changed schools so often that it was a real hardship. Not too many lasting friendships were fostered that way. I remember when I was changing diapers and wished for the day I didn’t have to. Changing jobs may have been an adventure to many people, but as for me, I would rather have not had to – but alas, when I needed better hours or more money, change came. The biggest change that I see happening right now is in the church… We have much to do that pray for The Body of Christ in that respect. The ONE constant is always our God. He is the same, yesterday, today and forever – on that we can depend.
Happy New Year, Floyd!
Floyd
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 @ 9:43 am
Amen Nancy! God is our Rock! Your not alone when it comes to changes I can assure you! Happy and Blessed New Year to you and all of yours!
Jason Stasyszen
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 @ 11:13 am
The only way our change of heart is permanent and not just an emotional high is that it becomes a change of thinking. Great way to say that. The whole post was great, but that idea captured me and took me on a detour. Hope you understand. ๐ Thanks Floyd and looking forward to spending the year with you. Blessings of His abundant grace to you in Jesus’ name!
Floyd
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 @ 5:13 pm
Thanks Jason. I understand about the detours quite well! Blessings to you and yours as well. I too am looking forward to spending another year with you as well my brother!