You will not finish “the” journey

…and Terah died in Haran. Genesis 11:32

We hear a lot about Abraham and his journeyings.

We hear little of Terah.

Terah was Abraham’s father and he went with Abraham on part of Abraham’s journey. But then the day came that Terah’s journey was completed. However, that didn’t mean the journey was completed…Abraham continued on.

Thankfully my journey is not over just yet, but I can relate to Terah. As a father, I have had to learn how to say “good-bye” and say it well. Having been a preacher’s kid myself and then having been in the ministry all my adult life, I know about journeys! The temptation is to long for permanence and consistency…to have my children and grandchildren nearby.

But the paths of God diverge for us all.

It is a blessing to share a part of our life-journey with family and dear friends. But this is never permanent. We must not hold on to those we love. Instead, we must prepare them for the day when we must say, “Good-bye.”

This is one of the great responsibilities of life.

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The ONE THING for today: Don’t confuse finishing your journey with finishing the journey. God’s plans for those you love are far bigger than the journey you are sharing with them. While enjoying every moment you can with those you love, it is also important to be mindful and intentional about preparing them for the leg of their journey that lies ahead when you are no longer there.