Saying Bye-bye

Tonight I had so much fun playing a new game that Adrian started. It's basically a version of hide and seek. It starts when he says "Bye-bye." and begins closing the door of his bedroom. Then I hide from him and he comes back in to find me. If he doesn't see me right away, he'll start crying "Da?!" and looking down the hall - as if I magically left the room without him seeing me. Then I will come from behind him and startle him. He inevitably jumps and bursts into laughter. He sometimes runs away from me - just begging me to chase him down the hall. I tackle him and squeeze and tickle him and let him know that I'm not lost. I'm right there with him. Then he turns and looks at me and says, "Bye-bye." The game never ends.

At the same time that I'm celebrating the joy of play with my son, I'm reflecting on the conversation I had today with a woman who is anticipating the death of her father. She has been saying goodbye to her father now for several months as his body continues to grow weaker.

I'm not sure there is much else to say... Except that it's days like this that I find incredible hope in God. Without my faith in God, the pull between joy and sorrow will only lead to despair. But in God, our "bye-byes" will always be welcomed by running down the hall in laughter, falling into an embrace and getting up to do it all over again.