He Left

Yesterday one of my students came to class for the last time. He was with me for a few months but was now relocating. Truthfully, my heart hurts to see him go. He has been a light in my classroom- funny, insightful, helpful and passionate about learning. We had a ‘see-you’ later party and celebrated his birthday too.

Leaving is never easy. Although we know it’s part of life, it often comes with a bitter-sweet pain. I remember when I migrated to the US in my early 20s. I cried for 6 months unending. I worked on the 16th floor of a New York high rise. Every day I stood at a large bay window overlooking mid-town Manhattan with tears pouring down my face. I felt fragile and disconcerted – I missed my country, my family and friends. Leaving can also be tough for the one that’s moving on.

People come into our lives for a reason and a season. We celebrate our coming together and the moments we get to share. God has an amazing way of loving us through those He allows to cross our path. Sometimes we get one moment in time to touch a life [ or be touched] – don’t miss the moments. Be thankful for the opportunity; it should never be taken lightly. Leave a wide-open space in your heart for people to come and go. It’s part of the cycle we are forced to contend with here on earth. Cherish those slices in time; they go by so fast. Breathe in the experiences and take pictures! Before you know it, someone leaves.

“Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.” [Proverbs 10: 12]