When Goodbyes Are Bittersweet and Necessary

On Thursday February 14, I said goodbye to my coworkers at my previous place of employment. The occasion was that I had accepted a job with another agency and am due to start tomorrow. The luncheon was also meant to serve as a birthday celebration for anyone in the office who had a February birthday. But the only person with a February birthday who was able to attend was the person who was also coordinating the luncheon. And I think only a few people knew already that it was his birthday month. So it wound up being more of a going away. Sometimes people never tell you the impact you had on them until it’s time to say goodbye. And it was at that going away that I realized how much these people had made an impact on me and how I had also impacted them. It made me realize that this is when goodbyes are bittersweet and necessary.

You see, I didn’t really want to have to take another job. But there just wasn’t very much opportunity for advancement there. And I felt like if I stayed hoping there was, there would be more of a chance that I would get stuck and miss all other chances for advancement with another agency. The Lord made it so that one of the multiple jobs I had applied to within the last 6 months contacted me for an interview. After the interview, they made an offer within 3 working days. The new agency proposed my release within 2 working weeks. It all happened so fast it made my head swim a little. After over a year of being turned down for jobs I knew I was qualified for, one agency finally said yes. In fact, I had interviewed with another department at the same agency I was already working for. I found out that they were calling references and bosses asking about me – so I knew that they were seriously considering me as a candidate. But it’s been weeks now and I have yet to hear back whether I got the job or not. After I accepted the offer with the new agency, a third agency contacted me for a Skype interview. I had to turn it down since I already accepted another offer. Plus, it was in another city AND would have required a relocation.

When God opens doors, he really opens doors.

The part of the day that almost brought me to tears was when a young lady gave me a dozen pink roses to say thank you for my kindness towards her. I had spent a few hours some months before giving her some guidance on how to join the federal civilian ranks. And she confided some things to me. I didn’t realize how big a deal it was to her until she gave me those roses. It was also sweet because this was all on Valentine’s Day.

This goodbye was bittersweet. But it was necessary. I have a destiny that this past job helped to usher me into, but now it’s a new season. And in this season, my new job will be one part of how the Lord will help me reach my destiny. I’m a bit nervous. Mostly excited. But because I have a history with God, I know that as long as I stay focused on him, I can do this. I can handle the bitter goodbye to get to the sweet destiny He has in mind.