New Friends Chapter 6 - Already Goodbye
Monday morning. Boxers and coffee. That is what I think about Monday mornings with Africans in the house. Oh, and praise music… can’t forget that. However, this morning was a bit more quiet, more concentrated, more sad. This morning they were going home. I tried to keep the mood chipper, and when they got to work they had a lot of farewells to give, and people to hug. I worked through the couple hours trying to focus on the important tasks staring me in the face. The two hours I had went by too fast and soon I was racing around, trying to find everyone to get them to the airport.
Once in the car we sang our usual praise music on the way. I had downloaded Ben’s favorite song “Mighty to Save” by Big Stuf and he repeated that over and over until Sammy was about ready to kill him. This ride I had my hair down and it was all over the place. (That is one of my biggest pet peeves. Hair in my face.) But I was feeling so blessed that it didn’t matter. The closer we got to the airport, the sadder I became. I had hosted staff before and I knew it was coming. Mostly because of the empty house, and the fact that friends became family over a couple days… and they were going so very far away.
I managed to keep it together until we arrived at the airport, got them checked in, and on the way to security. They both had too much luggage and we had to pay extra. I noticed that all the little things that would have gotten to me, didn’t. I was just graced to still be in their presence. Up until the security line, I portrayed one that was confident in seeing my friends again soon (you know, it would be in March!) but at the security gate I could do it any longer. As Ben prayed and thanked God for me and Jay, I prayed safe travels and thanked God for them… and then the flood gates opened. I knew it was coming. And this hard exterior that I (sometimes unconsciously) put up about me crumbled into the weak, dependable and vulnerable person I really am inside. They both looked a little shocked, but graciously (thank goodness) didn’t make me feel weird about it. I watched as they walked through security and I selfishly prayed that they didn’t get through. When they had cleared and barely visable, I saw them wave goodbye and they were gone.
Tucking my tail between my legs, I left the airport biting my tongue and walking as fast and steady as I could. When I got to the car I let loose of the emotions of my new family leaving me for around the world. It was my selfish moment, but at the same time I thanked God for the blessing of being able to love such wonderful people and show it with hosting them. I decided I was too tired to go back to work, but I couldn’t get myself to go home to an empty house. So, I called Meg and went to sleep with her in the dark solumn basement bedroom. There I slept and was able to digest my emotions with the dearest friend in my life, as well as get some sleep.
Once in the car we sang our usual praise music on the way. I had downloaded Ben’s favorite song “Mighty to Save” by Big Stuf and he repeated that over and over until Sammy was about ready to kill him. This ride I had my hair down and it was all over the place. (That is one of my biggest pet peeves. Hair in my face.) But I was feeling so blessed that it didn’t matter. The closer we got to the airport, the sadder I became. I had hosted staff before and I knew it was coming. Mostly because of the empty house, and the fact that friends became family over a couple days… and they were going so very far away.
I managed to keep it together until we arrived at the airport, got them checked in, and on the way to security. They both had too much luggage and we had to pay extra. I noticed that all the little things that would have gotten to me, didn’t. I was just graced to still be in their presence. Up until the security line, I portrayed one that was confident in seeing my friends again soon (you know, it would be in March!) but at the security gate I could do it any longer. As Ben prayed and thanked God for me and Jay, I prayed safe travels and thanked God for them… and then the flood gates opened. I knew it was coming. And this hard exterior that I (sometimes unconsciously) put up about me crumbled into the weak, dependable and vulnerable person I really am inside. They both looked a little shocked, but graciously (thank goodness) didn’t make me feel weird about it. I watched as they walked through security and I selfishly prayed that they didn’t get through. When they had cleared and barely visable, I saw them wave goodbye and they were gone.
Tucking my tail between my legs, I left the airport biting my tongue and walking as fast and steady as I could. When I got to the car I let loose of the emotions of my new family leaving me for around the world. It was my selfish moment, but at the same time I thanked God for the blessing of being able to love such wonderful people and show it with hosting them. I decided I was too tired to go back to work, but I couldn’t get myself to go home to an empty house. So, I called Meg and went to sleep with her in the dark solumn basement bedroom. There I slept and was able to digest my emotions with the dearest friend in my life, as well as get some sleep.
posted by Nic at 10:03 PM
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