Tiny Ripples of Hope

Tiny Ripples of Hope Everyday

Every time you stand up for an ideal, you send forth a tiny ripple of hope. 

(Robert Kennedy)

Surely, we are ready to face the facts, get them out, and get them over with so we can move on. Any show of hands? Changing our status to single-again is no party, even if Hollywood says differently. It is still not a pretty picture, especially if we didn’t want or cause the separation or break-up. It ushers in activities like turning off the phone and pulling the covers over our heads for the next three months!

If we want to breathe, however, the covers must come off sooner rather than later. We are stronger than we sometimes feel or look. Certainly, after our morning cup of coffee, tea, or juice and a shower, the day seems much better. Getting dressed in something comfortable and colorful, doing our hair and makeup, and stepping outside for a walk will fill our lungs with oxygen as well as hope. Now, we can think clearly.

We Are Here to Stay

We can take this season of our lives and make all sorts of new plans, ideas, and traditions. Showing the world we are here to stay on our terms bolsters confidence! Remember, our lives don't have to paint a picture of perfection because no one’s life is that immaculate. Aiming for something better--something hopeful--is much more authentic. We can strive to simply live, breathe, and survive day by day with all the enthusiasm we can find. Living this way by what we choose to do and how we act accomplishes much toward our well-being. One definition of hope is "anticipating something good to come in the future." Ready to test that thought?

Any or all of these fun pick-me-ups could fit right into the hope-filled lives that we are reinventing (remember these are choices that bring benefits):

• Regularly connect with a friend who understands us.
• Change our thinking and celebrate our own life. Try simple things to cheer ourselves up: a new restaurant, a new route to work, a new workout center, a new quilt for our bed.
• Keep our sense of humor, even if we're not known as the funny type. Watch a comedy. Tell jokes with our kids. Share a funny story with a friend or family member.
• Keep an encouragement journal. As often as we can (morning or night), list a few things we are grateful for that bring us happiness or a kind word spoken on our behalf.
• Volunteer to help someone in need. Work at a thrift store that benefits abused women. Read to children or the elderly. Teach someone to dance.
• If we don't feel like cooking for family dinners, it is okay to bring a store-bought dish or flowers for the table. Really.

Hope is as real as looking up in the sky and seeing the sun. It's too far away to touch, yet we can feel its warmth every day. Hope is the confidence we have in things that are unclear or unseen. It's our inspiration!

Tip of the Day

First of all, the whole truth: God is the original source of all hope. He knew we would someday need all we could get. He offers it to us with hands outstretched! The Bible tells us that hope creates patience, courage, and joy. When we allow our hope to dwindle, we can easily understand why we have no energy to bring us encouragement. Without hope, we have nothing else. It is one of the three things that last: faith, hope, and [true] love.

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13 NLT).