Saying Goodbye - a fresh look.....

       I've never really thought much about the word goodbye, except that it can be painful to say sometimes. I was reading the last page of the Church News today and found some information that made goodbye a more meaningful word and one I will think on with a different perspective.
       Did you know that the word goodbye comes from an expression used in the 16th century, a contraction of the phrase "God be with ye." Other languages have done a similar change in their parting words. For instance the French, adieu, means "to God", which is a shortened form of a dieu (vous) commant, meaning "I commend you to God". In Spanish it's adios, in Portuguese adeus, in Italian it's addio. A more formal form in Spanish is vaya con Dios, meaning "go with God", English is Godspeed. 
     Gives a whole new meaning to saying goodbye doesn't it? You are sending someone out with God's blessing which is a sweeter, more loving and reassuring way to say goodbye don't you think?