The Loneliest Word

Goodbye.

I hate that word.

The only thing harder than saying goodbye to a dear friend is watching your daughter go through a heartwrenching farewell.

Dayna and Katherine have been so sweet together this year. Katherine's family was on a 1-year visa to visit the States. This was the first time Dayna really got to know a Chinese family. We've learned so much more about Dayna's native culture because of this sweet family.

Katherine has been coming to Dayna's Sunday School class since last October. In December, the night before the Christmas program at church, Dayna shared that Katherine probably didn't have fancy clothes, so she just wanted to wear an "everyday dress" so her friend wouldn't feel bad.

For Dayna's birthday, she was allowed to choose ONE friend to do a fun activity with her. She chose Katherine.

In the course of the year, we have come alongside Katherine's family (together with a few other families at church.) We have loved them. We have shared God's Word with them.

After saying goodbye, I'm left wondering if we did enough.

But that really isn't the question, is it? I should be asking...were we faithful?

And so I console my sweet daughter who misses her friend, and I trust Katherine and her family (and their hearts) to the One who made them and designed friendship in the first place.

Katherine's family left Dayna her bike and a bag full of clothes they couldn't take with them. Dayna is wrapped up in too-big clothes with Chinese labels and "soaking in the smell" of her friend, Katherine.

We're so grateful for this experience.