What does 1 Thessalonians 2:17 mean?

But brothers and sisters, when we were separated from you for a little while—physically, not in our hearts—we missed you so much that we did everything we could to come back and see you face to face. 1 Thessalonians 2:17 - Modern Text Bible

(Paul is expressing how much he and his team care about the Thessalonians, and how hard it’s been to be apart from them.)