I usually don’t care too much about things like this, but Cracker Barrel hurt my heart. I’ve been frequenting it for years with my son. We built up a lot of warm memories, some of celebration and others of comfort in very dark times. It’s our place. God has really been teaching us both how to let go and move forward. Every time, for myself at least, it feels like ripping open a wound that is trying to heal, but it’s much like following Christ in this life.
Following Christ is a constant grieving of what’s been, letting go, gathering resilience, and trying to walk into the next thing God calls us to do. Every disappointment, betrayal, and change is a test of character. It’s also a reminder that we can’t be vessels of the Lord and be attached to people and things in this world. We have to deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and let go in order to move forward on the path of freedom.
The reality is that life is short. It is a revolving door. Like every business and trend, we’re all going to face our end and become nothing more than a distant memory or name that falls into the legacy of history. Death is sure to come, so in the midst of doors closing and bleeding wounds, it’s a good reminder to assess our hearts and ask who we are really living for.
Life is precious and saying goodbye is bittersweet, but for Christ’s people, every no is a yes in Him because even when things perish in this world, our souls march on toward an unshakable and irrevocable eternity.
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” – 1 John 2:15-17
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:1-2
