I have very vivid memories of my parents waving goodbye to me as I would leave their home in Tulsa after a visit. Over the years, as we had kids, they would still be waving to us as we drove away. Now, my wife, Kelly, and I are the ones waving to our children and now our grandchildren as well. We stand outside and wave as they drive away, and the moment is not complete until my kids honk their horn, signaling one final goodbye. It is an important ritual I’m glad we still do, and no doubt some of my children will continue the tradition with their little ones in years to come.
Not too long ago, I saw a story on the network news about a photographer who chronicled the memories of her parents waving goodbye to her. From 1991 until 2017, she took pictures of every departure from her parents’ home in Sioux City, Iowa. Now her collection of pictures entitled, “Leaving and Waving” is being shown in art galleries around the country. The pictures tell the story of a family and how we age and the sorrow of saying goodbye. The pictures reflect the visits in the summer and in the snows of an Iowa winter. They show her parents waving goodbye to their only grandson… first as a baby, then a teenager, and finally a young man in college. Deanna Dikeman says her Dad passed in 2009, and now there was just her Mom waving. After her Mom died, Deanna took one more picture of the empty driveway. In this story, she said, “I hope that everyone appreciates the ordinary moments with their dearest ones. Tell them you love them, and don’t wait until tomorrow.”
Of course, at Easter, we celebrate the empty tomb and the hope that goodbyes are never the last word in our lifetimes. We say goodbye to loved ones, and yes, there is sadness, but the power of that Easter morning means there will be reunions one day. There will be a time when goodbyes are a thing of the past and we are gathered together in the arms of a loving God.
There are only so many moments we have on this earth, and none of us know with certainty when our last one will be. So, remember to celebrate those ordinary moments with those we love the most. It is one of the most important things we can do in this life.
Rev. David Poteet, Pastor of Congregational Care
