On Leaving Friends and Family

With the passing seasons, there come times of leave-taking. Many leave home, many young people particularly, for school, for work, for other opportunities. And leaving home-ties is always in some ways a trying time—even leaving for pleasant prospects. There is always change when one is away—change in us, change in others, change in circumstances and situations. There is change in every new experience, change in every separation, and parents cannot see sons and daughters leaving, (nor can those who leave), without some sobering thoughts—thoughts of gratitude for opportunity, mixed with some sentiment and some cause for concern. What will happen to us and to others? What events will intervene? What will there be of the altering of attitudes? Who will be here when they come back? Both those who stay, and those who leave, wonder. Yet, the coming and goings, the meetings and partings in life are always, it seems, inevitable—and few there are, if any, who live without some separation. (And the certainty of these separations gives us added gratitude for the assurances of reunion and for the everlastingness of life). Now as to those who go: What have we a right reasonably to expect of them when they leave home and friends and familiar places? This we would say is a minimum for them to remember: that always, wherever they are, they remember who they are and what they are; that they remember home teachings, high standards, courteous and trustworthy conduct; that they remember that what was basically right at home must be basically right also away from home—for there is no geography of principles, there is no geography of decency, of morality, or of honesty; there is no geography as to character, as to keeping the commandments, as to gentlemanly and kindly and considerate conduct. We are what we are, wherever we are. And you who go away: Remember parents waiting and wondering, parents praying and pleading for your peace and happiness and protection. Remember fathers, mothers, teachers, family, friends. And let the best of all that has been taught you, remain with you to guide you and guard you and bring you back to those you leave, to those you love, to those you would one day return to. And remember also the day of returning to Him who sent you here to live this life.