Goodbye My Friend - Irma Romo

In this lifetime we have made many friends. Some are neighbors, others are colleagues, some school buddies, etc.
As they walk onto our path, we do not know the impact that they will make in our lives. 
Some, like my neighbor Irma Romo, a dear neighbor for over 21 years. We watched our children play together, grow together, get into mischief together and eventually grown up into their own.
Today, I want to say "goodbye" to her. As she is making her way into a new journey, I sit with her children and grandchildren and listen to their tears, their grief and their stories.

It is difficult to let go of a loved one. We do not want to feel the loss of their departure. We cannot see ourselves moving forward without them. But yet, this is exactly what Irma and life has prepared us for. 

Looking back at my own losses, I clearly understand their emotions and their anxiety of "how do I move forward?"

Yes, it is our natural emotions to not want our loved ones to leave earth, but we know that there is a time to be born and a time to die. 

Listen to what Ecclesiastes 3:1-3 has to say and allow the words to speak to you.

To everything there is a season, 
A time for every purpose under heaven.
 A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up; A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;  
A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;  
A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;  
A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;  
A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.

"Good bye my dear friend"