I miss.

That’s all.

Memories & Goodbyes.

With the end of summer coming nearer and nearer, it brings me to a point in my life that I have been dreading for the past year or so now; saying goodbye to all of my senior friends going off to college. I’ve known it was going to happen eventually, but I had it engraved in my mind that if i chose not to discuss it, or think about…it wouldn’t happen. But, it’s happening, and quickly so. Lately, all I have been doing is re-playing all of the amazing and hilarious memories we have shared together over the past couple years, and then imagining the tearful goodbyes I am going to have to experience in the next couple of weeks. These people have grown to be my family. I look up to them more than words could ever describe and I cannot even imagine not seeing them everyday. The part that gets me the most is the realization I have come to- that it is never the same after people go off to school. Sure-you can say you’ll visit all the time, and you can make the agreement that “we will stay the best of friends always” but truthfully, it’s difficult to stick to these promises. People change, and with that, so does life. Growing up sucks and I am terrified to begin the journey. I am so scared to take over the responsibility of being the “senior” at school, and at youth group. Nervous to become the one who younger peers look up to, like I look up to the seniors now. So-I am praying. Praying that God calms my heart, and gives me peace about everything. Praying that The Lord continues to bless and use the Seniors as they go off to school, and meet new people. I pray that they continue to share His word, and touch lives like the ones they have impacted here in The Woodlands. I am thanking my Father for the tears, because they represent so much more than just sadness, they represent all of the memories, and the goodbyes to wonderful friends that He has placed in my life for so many reasons. I am thankful for each and every one of my Senior friends because through them the Lord has taught me strength, faithfulness, trust, and compassion. He has shown me what it looks like to have true friends who whole-heartedly love and care for each other. He has revealed to me what it looks like to grow, and love as a community and with that, placed me with the responsibility of continuing the revelation. So use me Lord, take my tears and hesitant goodbyes and allow me to glorify You through them. Allow me to love the way my friends have humbly loved me.