Tedashii Blog-Where’s the good in goodbye?
Someone once asked the question, “Where’s the good in goodbye?”
It is difficult to say goodbye, especially to a beloved family member, and even more so when there is a level of uncertainty as to wether or not you will see each other again.
As a child growing up I never liked saying goodbye. It meant I or they had to go. It never made sense to me. If the time spent together is so enjoyable and you like me and I like you, then why leave? I asked that question to my relatives, my dad at the time, and also friends. Even as an adult I’ve asked the same questions. I knew people had jobs, families of their own, or even other responsibilities but saying goodbye was just not an enjoyable thing. Two of my relatives were in the military, so I felt the sorrow of watching a loved one go back overseas not knowing if and when they would be back.
So why leave? Why can’t you stay?
I’m reminded of Christ’s disciples who, when made aware of Jesus’ soon departure, rejected the idea of Christ leaving. They did not want to see him go. Let’s look at John 14:25-28. It says,
25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
I mean, this is Jesus we are talking about. The Messiah, whom they let everything go for and followed.
The one they learned from daily, ate meals with, served with, prayed with, and maybe even cried with. When you do life with someone that intensely for that long it’s never easy to say goodbye. I can imagine as hard as it was for me to say goodbye to family, for them it was even harder.
However, the unique difference between his goodbye and my goodbye is he had an eternal perspective.
Christ had the unique worldview of living with the end in mind. That is why he could continue on in the face of death. That’s why he could teach of his leaving, because he always kept the end goal in view. Not only that but for the wearied and saddened hearts of those that loved him he promised a comforter. So there is great distinction between Christ’s goodbye and mine. His is with eternity in perspective and with a comforter whom he sent and is comforting even as we say to our loved ones, goodbye.
Also, one huge aspect of living with the end in mind, for Christians, is we know we will all meet again. He gives us an assurance of hope in the heavens, the eternal, that we will be with each other again. This very promise is sealed with the Holy Spirit to assure our hearts with the comfort of our eternity with Him. So for us our goodbye doesn’t have to be our last goodbye.
I’ve watched relatives go to war and not come home and I’ve seem friends go into battle to not return. But I know, because of a faith in Christ, we will see one another again. My goodbye is not the last one to them but rather a, “Till we meet again”.
Christ tells us in 1 Thessalonians 4 that those in Him have a hope and how those whom we lost we will meet again. What a great comfort to my soul!
So living with the end in mind is to take hold of and to never let go of hope. An eternal perspective of life based on his promises to us in him.
So I ask, where is the “good” in goodbye? It’s in Him. It’s in faith that by His power we will meet again.
So, let us all live with the end in mind full of hope, knowing this does not need to be our last goodbye.
And to all our armed forces I say thank you! Thank you for your service.
Also, to the families of our fallen who paid the ultimate sacrifice, thank you as well. We are able to continue on doing what we do because of you. I am grateful! Know that this video and my heart are to show appreciation, share my own personal gratitude, and to make aware the difficulties many face in this way of service.
Respectfully I share my heart and art in the hope we will have just that, hope.
Again, thank you.
Sincerely,
Tedashii
All Comments 19
As a grown "Navy brat", myself a Navy veteran, and wife to a man who has served Army National Guard & nearing retirement in the US Navy -- I say to your 'thank you,' that "It's an honor to serve you." I also thank you for your beautiful song, video, and devotional. May I have permission to download your video & print and read your devotional to the military wives I Bible study with? What a beautiful verse & meditation for those of us who continue to say, "See ya up the road!"
With much love in Christ
and much appreciation
Mary
Mary
– May 30 2011
I was recently saved & I gotta say that I never expected Christian hip hop to be so wonderful & inspirational you & many others are blessed men! Keep up the God work !
Dustin Wilhelmsen
– May 30 2011
This is so inspiring, and i would like to thank you for taking your time to write this wonderful song. You have given hope to the hopeless, once again thanks you Tedashii, and thanks to reach records. You guys have inspired me with your message and helped me change my ways. Keep up spreading the gospel,your biggest fan from Malawi.
Kondwani Malimba
– May 30 2011
To the Heroes of America who serve our country faithfully, God Bless you and thank you for all you do and will continue to do. To their families, Don't loose hope. God is sovereign and he will provide a way to see your loved ones again. To Tedashii. This video really touched my heart. God Bless you Tedot and I pray that Christ will allow me to purchase your album sometime after 2moro.
Big Nate
– May 30 2011
Thanks, Tedashii. I really appreciated the video. My brother is currently deployed and I've been praying earnestly for God to bring him home safely to love his wife faithfully and raise his baby girl on the way to a godly woman. Thanks for the encouragement, brother.
Ryan Hoffman
– May 30 2011
I JUST WANNA SAY THAT WITH GOD MOLDING ME TO TAKE ON THE YOUTH AND MAKE A MOVEMENT. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK OF GOD BECAUSE THIS SONG AND DUM DUM ARE GOING TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE YOUTH. AND IT WILL BRIDGE A GAP. THAT WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR US TO SPEAK TO THE YOUTH. AND HELP CHANGE THE WORLD
GITO
– May 30 2011
Thanks Tedashii
This video really hits home for me as I just returned from a deployment on a submarine. I have other friends that have been deployed on the ground, some of which have not returned. Saying goodbye to the family is the hardest thing to do when we deploy, so it means a lot to me to see the support. This video really touched me. God bless, and keep the end in mind.
Matt
Matthew Bertels
– Jun 1 2011
Made me cry...Thanks TDot
Josh
– Jun 4 2011
tedashii, my hat goes off to you you put your all into this i can tell its on a heavy rotation everday keep doing good work!
elite1
– Jun 7 2011
dude thats realy the truth i wanna be like ya i rap for my god i love him if i ever be in holland (its were i live) i wil come and rap for ma god PRAISE HIM GBY BRO
tim
– Jun 25 2011
dude you know how 2 speak i wanna go to a concert of ya but im living in holland so it wil be pretty hard im a christian rapper 2 im rapping for him 2 GBY BROTHA
tim
– Jun 25 2011
Last Goodbye is a really touching song!
Caleb
– Jun 27 2011
God-given explanation!
Jason Haynes
– Jul 11 2011
the song is very inspiring and heart touching....i always thank God for you for being an inspiration and a blessing to me and many other people..and the sermon you gave in Kenya during the unashamed concert changed my life for the better..God bless you so much
milanoi mercy
– Nov 23 2011
with being in the army myself this made me think. as i sit here i have a light on having to leave soon. its takes a lil pressure of leaving my family and friends. to you i say thank you, for your recognition of what we do, and for your prayers
Donavan Downey
– Nov 30 2011
Get Backlinks http://www.allbacklinks.com/
reewrisedof
– Aug 8 2012
T-Dot,
Thank you for writing this awesome article almost 2 years ago. I know your family is grieving right now due to the loss of your son but I pray that the love and encouragement that you brought to me and many others through these words will now comfort you and your family. After I did 5 years in the Marine Corps I decided to get out to better serve my family and be a Christ following Husband/Father. Only 6 months later my wife tells me she no longer loves me and wants to become a stripper. For the next 2 years my life turns upside down in a terrible mix of emotional pain, spiritual chaos, and divorce. Through the music you, Andy Mineo, KB, Lecrae, and other 116 members compose, I began to see Christ's face in a new way, a more modern way. The pain I felt in every ounce of my body began to be erased through the love Christ filled me with, which started through the music you guys composed. During that time, God introduced me to a new friend that after a few months became my best friend and shortly after that, my wife. God always has a plan for us and as Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future." We might not understand it, just like Job didn't understand it while he was being tested, but in the end, God will reward you for your faithfulness to Him. I'll be praying for you and your family brotha. I pray that Christ's love will fill your family's heart's and that music will soothe your pain.
In Christian Love,
Adam Simon
Adam Simon
– Apr 24 2013
i thank JESUS for u, i really enjoyed looking and learning from your walk as a christian.
claudette thomas
– May 23 2013
Thank you Tedashii for your song Off Da Hook. I was just introduced to it recently. At first, I really didn't get it at all. The next time I heard it, I thought you were just saying something loud to get attention without a real message. I admit I didn't listen to the lyrics but mostly the refrain. Then right after a few hard days of the enemies lies playing over and over in my head, I heard your song again. This time, I listened to the words. My God! Thank you so much for showing me in a brand new way that I am off the hook for my weaknesses, my mistakes, and my failures. I don't have to take the pressure the enemy gives me because I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior, and Christ has released me from the wages of my sin and iniquities. I rock out to this song and as I am given Christ all the praise, the enemy flees! Thank you soooooo much Tedashii, Shiree R. from Atlanta
Shiree R.
– Feb 23 2014