SAYING GOODBYE
Soul & Self-Care Sunday | October 18, 2026
Opening Poem: The Space Between Hello and Goodbye
Some hellos arrive like sunshine,
Some goodbyes come dressed in rain.
Some people leave us memories,
Some leave lessons through the pain.
Some seasons end without a warning,
Some change before our very eyes.
Some hearts are learning how to loosen,
While still believing love survives.
But there’s a blessing in the middle,
A sacred space we sometimes miss.
The laughter shared, the hands we’ve held,
A gentle touch, a simple kiss.
So I won’t rush tomorrow’s sorrow,
Or let fear steal today’s embrace.
I’ll thank my God for every moment,
For every soul, for every grace.
And when life’s chapters start to change,
I’ll trust the Author of my story.
For even when the seasons shift,
Love leaves its footprints in God’s glory.
Good Morning, My Beautiful Dreamers!
Good morning, good morning, good morning!
Welcome to another edition of Soul & Self-Care Sunday!
You know, I woke up a little earlier than usual this morning.
And I have to tell you, this particular Sunday feels a little different.
Not necessarily sad. Not necessarily heavy.
Just… sacred.
You ever have one of those mornings when your heart wakes up before your body does?
When you find yourself thinking about the people in your life, the relationships you’ve cherished, the friendships that have changed, and the moments you wish you could put on pause?
Well, welcome to my October.
Because this month, it seems like everywhere I turn, I’m either reflecting on a goodbye, navigating a goodbye, or preparing my heart for the possibility of one.
And before anybody gets nervous, we’re not having a funeral this morning! (Smile.)
We’re having a celebration of life, love, lessons, and the incredible gift of right now.
Because sometimes we become so consumed with what we might lose that we forget to appreciate what we still have.
And that’s what I want to talk about today.
1. Not Every Goodbye Means Someone Is Gone
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV) reminds us:
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”
Sometimes saying goodbye means letting go of a relationship that no longer serves the people we’ve become.
Sometimes it means releasing expectations.
Sometimes it means accepting that a friendship we thought would last forever has changed.
And here’s something I’ve learned:
You can love someone, appreciate the role they played in your life, and still recognize that the season has changed.
You don’t have to rewrite the history to justify the ending.
You don’t have to make somebody the villain so you can feel better about moving forward.
And you certainly don’t have to carry bitterness as proof that you were hurt.
Sometimes you simply have to say:
“Thank you for the season. Thank you for the lesson. And may God bless us both on the journey ahead.”
Because some goodbyes aren’t about rejection.
They’re about redirection.
And some relationships don’t end because the love wasn’t real.
They change because life changed.
That’s why Isaiah 43:19 reminds us that God is doing a new thing.
But while we’re celebrating what’s new, let’s not become so eager to close chapters that we forget to appreciate what those chapters taught us.
2. The Gift of 94 Years
This morning, after I finish spending time with you, I’m preparing to head to the hospital.
I’m going to visit someone who is 94 years young.
And let me tell you something: this gentleman is a blessing.
His life is rich with history, wisdom, resilience, and stories.
Think about that for a moment.
Ninety-four years of living.
Ninety-four years of witnessing the world change.
Ninety-four years of experiences, challenges, victories, disappointments, and blessings.
Recently, he experienced a fall, and naturally, I’m concerned about him.
But here’s what I refuse to do:
I refuse to let my concern about tomorrow overshadow my gratitude for today.
Because today, I still have the opportunity to visit him.
To hear his voice.
To look into his eyes.
To remind him that he matters.
Psalm 90:12 teaches us to number our days so that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
I don’t interpret that as an invitation to live in fear of how many days we have left.
I see it as encouragement to make the days we have count.
And as I think about this beautiful gentleman, I realize that sometimes the greatest gift we can give someone isn’t another present.
It’s our presence.
It’s listening to their stories one more time.
It’s allowing them to repeat something we’ve heard ten times before.
It’s making them feel seen, remembered, respected, and loved.
Because everybody deserves to know that their life has mattered.
And we shouldn’t wait until someone’s story is over to tell them how much we appreciated being part of it.
3. My Little Ride-or-Die, Snowball
Now, let me talk about somebody who’s probably somewhere in this room right now.
My Snowball!
(Laugh.)
For 18 years, this little Bichon Frise has been my ride-or-die.
Eighteen years!
He’s been with me through so many seasons of my life.
He’s watched me laugh, cry, celebrate, work, pray, and probably talk to myself more than I care to admit!
And you know, lately he’s been dealing with some respiratory and heart-related health challenges.
He’s developed this cough.
So if you hear something sounding like a little goose in the background during today’s message, don’t be alarmed.
That’s Snowball making his guest appearance!
Normally, I’m fussing at him about something, and he’s running around doing what Snowball does.
But this morning, he’s resting.
And as I look at him, I’m reminded that love isn’t measured simply by the big moments.
Sometimes love looks like eighteen years of feeding somebody, caring for them, taking them to appointments, cleaning up behind them, worrying about them, and still calling them your baby.
Some of you understand exactly what I’m talking about.
Our pets are not just pets.
They’re family.
They’re companions.
They’re witnesses to the seasons of our lives.
And I know he’s getting older.
I know his health requires more attention.
But I don’t want to spend today grieving a tomorrow that hasn’t arrived.
I want to love on my little buddy today.
I want to appreciate the fact that he’s still right here with me.
Still my Snowball.
Still my blessing from Heaven.
And still reminding me that some of the purest expressions of love come with four legs and a whole lot of personality!
Don’t let the fear of losing something precious rob you of the joy of still having it.
4. When Someone You Love Receives Difficult News
And then there are those other moments.
The phone calls.
The conversations.
The news we weren’t expecting.
Recently, I’ve learned of friends and people I know facing cancer and other serious health challenges.
And news like that has a way of rearranging your priorities.
Suddenly, the things that seemed urgent yesterday don’t seem nearly as important today.
You start thinking about the people you haven’t called.
The visits you’ve postponed.
The things you’ve been meaning to say.
And you realize something:
Life is too precious to keep postponing love.
Proverbs 17:17 reminds us that a friend loves at all times.
And all times includes the uncomfortable times.
The hospital times.
The treatment times.
The times when somebody doesn’t need a sermon, an explanation, or another person telling them to be strong.
Sometimes they just need somebody to sit beside them.
Somebody who can say:
“I’m here.”
“You don’t have to pretend with me.”
“You don’t have to have all the answers.”
And sometimes, my beautiful dreamers, the most powerful ministry you can offer somebody is simply showing up.
Not every difficult diagnosis is a goodbye.
Not every hospital visit is the beginning of an ending.
There are recoveries, treatments, renewed strength, and beautiful chapters still being written.
So we’re going to keep praying.
Keep believing.
Keep encouraging.
And keep showing up with love.
Because faith doesn’t mean we deny what’s happening.
Faith means we trust God while we walk through what’s happening.
And sometimes, that is more than enough for today.
5. Don’t Rehearse a Goodbye That Hasn’t Happened
Here’s the lesson I believe God is teaching me this October.
Stop rehearsing losses that haven’t happened.
Stop allowing tomorrow’s uncertainty to steal today’s peace.
And stop confusing preparation with surrender.
You can acknowledge that life is fragile without living in fear.
You can recognize that relationships change without becoming afraid to love again.
You can care for someone who’s aging or experiencing illness without treating every moment like the last.
Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6:34 not to worry about tomorrow, because each day has enough concerns of its own.
And that scripture has taken on a whole new meaning for me.
Because I don’t need the strength for every possible tomorrow this morning.
I need the grace to be present today.
To love today.
To forgive today.
To make the call today.
To laugh today.
To say thank you today.
And to recognize that the people God has placed in our lives are not interruptions to our schedules.
Sometimes they are the very blessings our schedules should be making room for.
6. When Goodbye Is Necessary
Now, before we close, let me address another kind of goodbye.
The one you choose.
Because sometimes self-care means recognizing when something is no longer healthy for your spirit.
A friendship.
A relationship.
A pattern.
An expectation.
Sometimes the goodbye isn’t to a person at all.
Sometimes you’re saying goodbye to the version of yourself that kept accepting less than the peace God wanted for you.
And let me tell you:
You can leave with love.
You can establish boundaries without hatred.
You can forgive somebody without giving them unlimited access to your life.
And you can wish someone well without walking beside them into every new season.
Romans 12:18 encourages us, as far as it depends on us, to live at peace with everyone.
Notice that doesn’t mean every relationship must continue in the same form.
It means we can pursue peace even when the path forward looks different.
Some goodbyes protect your peace. Others remind you how precious your peace really is.
And both can teach you something valuable.
And can I be honest with you about something?
There are goodbyes I’ve said recently that I’m still carrying in prayer.
Some friendships and some relationships I’ve had to release. And I won’t sugarcoat it: for now, they’re dead. Not because I stopped caring, but because the season demanded it.
But here’s where I stand: I’m leaving room for God.
Because if reconciliation ever comes, it will come His way, in His timing, and with the peace He requires. Until then, I release it. I don’t chase what God has closed, and I don’t grieve what God is still writing.
Some goodbyes are doors shut for now. And only God knows which ones He may open again someday.
7. The Sacred Space Called Right Now
As I close this morning, I want you to do something for yourself.
Think about somebody you love.
Maybe it’s a parent.
A friend.
A spouse.
A sibling.
A child.
A beloved pet.
Maybe it’s someone who’s getting older.
Someone whose health is changing.
Or someone you simply haven’t made enough time for lately.
Now ask yourself:
Have I told them lately how much they mean to me?
Have I been so distracted by what’s wrong that I’ve forgotten to celebrate what’s right?
Have I been waiting for the perfect moment to say something that should have been said a long time ago?
Because here’s what I know:
Not every relationship will last forever.
Not every chapter will remain open.
And not every goodbye will come with an explanation.
But while we’re here, we can choose love over pride.
Presence over distraction.
Gratitude over fear.
And peace over the need to control what happens next.
The beauty of life isn’t that everything lasts forever. It’s that some things matter forever, even when seasons change.
And sometimes the most courageous thing we can do is simply enjoy the blessing of today without demanding a guarantee for tomorrow.
Closing Poem: While You’re Still Here
So while you’re still here, I’ll celebrate,
The love, the laughter, small and great.
I’ll make the call, I’ll take the time,
I’ll treasure your heartbeat next to mine.
I won’t let fear write tomorrow’s page,
Or count the years upon life’s stage.
For love is more than holding tight,
It’s showing up and being light.
And if a chapter has to close,
I’ll thank the God who saw it grow.
No bitter ending, no wasted tears,
Just gratitude for all the years.
For every season, near or far,
Love leaves its light upon the heart.
And though life’s changes may appear,
I’ll choose to love while you’re still here.
Final Encouragement
My beautiful dreamers, as you go into this new week, I want you to remember:
Don’t become so consumed with the possibility of saying goodbye that you forget the privilege of saying good morning.
Call somebody.
Love somebody.
Forgive somebody, where you can.
And if there’s a relationship you need to release, do so with wisdom, dignity, and peace.
But above all, celebrate who’s still here.
Because right now is a gift.
And today is still a blessing.
Let’s close with a quick prayer.
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for every person, every relationship, every companion, and every season of love You’ve allowed us to experience.
We lift up those who are sick, those who are healing, those who are aging, and those who are carrying concerns they haven’t even spoken aloud.
Give us the wisdom to know when to hold on, the courage to know when to let go, and the grace to appreciate the moments in between.
Help us not to borrow tomorrow’s sorrow.
Teach us to be present, to love deeply, to forgive freely, and to cherish the people and blessings still surrounding us.
For every uncertain tomorrow, remind us that You are already there.
And for every precious today, remind us to say thank You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Until next Sunday, remember to take care of your soul, take care of yourself, and take care of one another.
I’m not saying goodbye to today. I’m saying thank You for it.
And that’s your Soul & Self-Care Sunday.
Be blessed, beautiful dreamers! 💗