Hope.

Fewer things make me more frustrated than hope; but fewer things are more essential to life, love, and faith. Without hope we are creatures living in despair, and in the words of Mirilla (Anne of Green Gables), "to despair is to turn your back on God." Hope, almost like air, truly is vital in our lives.

In a society that's transfixed on "clear-cut results" the concept of hope can seem more like a fairy tale or unrealistic idealism. To hope is to dream, and dreaming in itself accomplishes nothing tangible -- how can success be merited in that?

I think I first became disappointed with hope when I was two-years-old. Ever since then hope and I have had our battles, but at its core, next to love and grace, I find few things more beautiful than hope. I want, with every fiber of my being, for people to see me and sense the hope in me. There is so much to hope for ...

- Love.
- Heaven.
- Dreams.
- The gospel.
- Making a difference in the world.
- Being all God wants me to be.
- Showing kindness to others.

I could spend all day listing all the things I hope for; not because I am discontent or unsatisfied with life, but because I know God made us for so much more and I hope I can never forget this.

One of my favorite verses is Romans 12:12 "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer." And a favorite poem of mine is by Emily Dickinson, "Hope Is The Thing With Feathers." Whenever I get scared that hope will fall through the cracks I repeat that poem or verse in my head, remembering that God delights in my hope.

"Hope Is The Thing With Feathers"

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.