@bethvogt
My friend Jeanne and I have May birthdays. We’ve developed a funny tradition around our birthdays: we never celebrate them with each other during our birthday month.
Don’t get me wrong – we’ve tried many, many times to celebrate during May. We make plans to meet for breakfast or lunch or dinner. Inevitably, our plans get pushed back again and again, and we find ourselves finally meeting up in June or July.
This year we celebrated on June 21 – yes, two days ago. We’ve decided not to fight the inevitable, but embrace belated birthday get-togethers as our special custom.
One of Jeanne’s birthday gifts to me prompted this blog post. It’s a delicate gold chain with the word HOPE spelled out within small gold blocks.
While LISTEN is my One Word for 2021, HOPE has become a sub-theme for this year, as I’ve leaned into the belief that hope is a renewable commodity. No matter how depleted my supply of hope is at the end of the day, it is replenished every morning because God’s mercies are new every morning and his faithfulness is great. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
Today, inspired by my friend’s gift, I decided to share a quote acrostic with you using the word HOPE. Each letter of the word is linked to a graphic highlighting a quote that starts with that letter. May you be encouraged by one – maybe all – of the different thoughts expressed about hope.
“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness.” Desmond Tutu, theologian
“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” Helen Keller, American author
“Pray, and let God worry.” Martin Luther, German theologian
“Everything that is done in this world is done by hope.” Martin Luther, German theologian
Does one of those quotes encourage you more than the others? I’d love to know!
Today ... Tomorrow ... Every Day ... Let's Focus On Hope! #quotes #hope Click To Tweet 'Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark.' #quote by George Iles #hope #encouragement Click To Tweet
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Comments 6
I’m so glad you and Jeanne were able to get together. Being present with one another is more important than forcing a date on the calendar. I loved your acrostic, as well. Hope is what keeps us moving forward each day when the enemy wants to tie us down.
Author
Yes, Lisa, getting together is the best part of our birthday tradition. We talked and laughed and could have spent hours together in the coffee shop!
When the drooling demons scream
and hope’s not seen in the revealing,
don’t give up and split the scene,
for hope is more than just a feeling,
but a most coherent thing,
a solidity to choose,
a bright bird to take its wing,
and if in the end you lose
you can go out with a smile,
face the end, your head held high,
holding knowledge all the while
that every day’s good day to die
when to hope is your selection,
for the word is God’s reflection.
Author
If anyone knows about choosing hope again and again in the face of challenges very few people ever see, it’s you, Andrew.
Praying for you, my friend.
Wonderful you were able to get together.
Author
Hi, Denise: I always look forward to seeing you — and yes, it was good to see Jeanne and to celebrate one another. Jeanne always inspires me and today I decided to share it!