Hope...Sometimes hope feels far away. But hope is always there. Hope is the warmth of strong arms around you. Hope is the sad tears flowing, making room for joy. Hope is angry words bursting, making room for understanding. Hope is scared words asking for help, and finding that help is there. Hope is knowing that you are loved. Hope is knowing that you love others. Hope is holding tight to your mother's hand. Hope is your father's good-night kiss. Hope is remembering his kisses when he can't be there with you. Hope is finding happiness in simple things. Hope is daring to do something you've never done before. Hope is remembering that you are not alone. Many others feel just the way you do. Many others care. Hope is a candle flame in the darkness. Hope is the clear sky above the gray clouds. Hope is the glistening of the snow when the storm has passed. Hope is a heart that is open to the world around you. Hope is knowing that things change - and that we can help things to change for the better. Hope is always there inside you, waiting to unfold.
- Lauren Thompson
'Tis the week of the 'hope' candle in advent. 'Hope' is something I have been struggling with. While I think this excerpt is from a childrens' book, it helps separate the idea of hoping from wishing. I am fine with the present. The day-to-day. It is looking ahead to what will be going on 3 weeks or 6 months or 2 years from now that makes me want a glass of wine on my couch and then to curl up in bed.
In other randomness and to get into the holiday spirit, I finally treated myself to a nativity. I had been looking for one that was not super-breakable and not a bunch of white people. I got this from the Serrv shop at church, and they have other lovely ones.
I got and put up and decorated my lovely tree all by myself. I am self-sufficient like that.
As needy as my cat often seems, you gotta admit she is awfully adorable when she cuddles in like this. She slipped and didn't make it up when she jumped up on a dining chair this evening. She either needs more exercise or is getting old or both.
4 comments:
Hope can be a difficult thing on its own... Nice tree and nativity. Merry Christmas!
I really like this post. To relate it to something I'm doing, I've joined an Advent study at church and we talked about how Hope is different from optimism. It's been neat to delve into these topics of the Advent wreath more. I'm also re-reading stories of the bible in the process.
The pic of your cat cuddling in is just too adorable. And I like the nativity you chose; it was worth waiting for. :-)
I love your Christmas decor. And your cat is so sweet! Maybe just a weeeeee bit clingy... ;-)
May as well live in the present moment. It's all we've really got anyway.
Ron, I do find hope difficult because it feels rather amorphous and lacks direction in my mind.
Danielle, that sounds like a great Advent study! The excerpt was from our service that week.
Spark, I sometimes feel guilty the cat is alone all day until the days I stay home and she disappears into the bed and ignores me until dinner time. I think she's not as lonely as she lets on.
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