Hope

Hope

Hope is with you when you believe
The earth is not a dream but living flesh,
that sight, touch, and hearing do not lie,
That all thing you have ever seen here
Are like a garden looked at from a gate.
You cannot enter. But you're sure it's there.

Could we but look more clearly and wisely
We might discover somewhere in the garden
A strange new flower and an unnamed star.

Some people say that we should not trust our eyes,
That there is nothing, just a seeming,
There are the ones who have no hope.

They think the moment we turn away,
The world, behind our backs, ceases to exist,
As if snatched up by the hand of thieves.

- Czeslaw Milosz

A Pocketful of Hope

Here's a quick reminder to all of you when you get stuck in a moment --- that, somewhere out there, someone always comes along with a pocket full of hope.

Today I spent all my coins and dollar bills on little deeds. I had skipped breakfast because the clock was ticking away too quickly. On top of the mad rush, I forgot my lunch. I was going to buy my lunch along the way, but a person in need asked me if I could spare them some cash, so I decided that moment, to put them first.

So, then later, that evening, I was heading home anxiously awaiting dinner, when I got a call from my Mom saying that she was stuck working the late night shift and wouldn't be able to make it to the market to pick up groceries. Even though there was no food in the house, I took a step back for a second, and I told my Mom not to worry as I would surely find myself something on which to munch. :)

While I was still processing this sudden set of changes in my food options for the day, I passed a young man with a broad smile handing out crunchy samples of crackers at a supermarket stand. He gave me a packet and then did a double take saying, "How about you take some more for school tomorrow?" In response to that, I opened up my heart by returning a warm smile to him and also opened up my plastic carry on bag as he gladly filled it with 20 little crunchy packets. I was thrilled.

Whether you call it luck, fate, serendipity or the stroke of the universe, I just wanted to say that somewhere out there somebody came along carrying a glimpse of hope in his heart and shared a piece of it with me! Somebody out there will one day do the same for you!

- Author Unknown

When We Have Hope

As long as we have hope, we have direction,
the energy to move, and the map to move by.

We have a hundred alternatives,
a thousand paths and an infinity of dreams.

Hopeful, we are halfway to where we want to go;
Hopeless, we are lost forever.

- Author Unknown

The Ship Of Life

Across the shore awaits a boat

Though sea's are rough,

its still afloat

Raise the sails, held up by mast
Forget the troubles of distant past

As wave crash down upon the deck
Steady the boat; not quite a wreak

Tend the mast, and fix the scrach
light the lantern with one last match

The storm will end,

pull anchor and rope.

look up to see the stars of hope.

- Unknown

Heart Touching Quotes

God picked up a flower, dipped it in dew
lovingly touched it, which turned into you
he gifted it to me & said this friend is for you.
==========================================

I have realized that
Words had hurt me more than
The wounds I had suffered in life
==========================================

I have realized that
Tears convey more than
What words can ever say
==========================================

No person deserves your tears,
and who deserves them
won't make you cry.
==========================================

Your Smile and laugh just warms my heart
I felt this feeling from the start

This warmth I want to feel again
and I will make you happy anyway I can

So I hope this note I am sending your way
will make you smile and have a happy day.
==========================================

- Unknown

Motivational Poem - Hope

If you can look at the sunset and smile,
then you still have hope.

If you can find beauty in the colors of a small flower,
then you still have hope.

If you can find pleasure in the movement of a butterfly,
then you still have hope.

If the smile of a child can still warm your heart,
then you still have hope.

If you can see the good in other people,
then you still have hope.

If the rain breaking on a roof top can still lull you to sleep,
then you still have hope.

If the sight of a rainbow still makes you stop and stare in wonder,
then you still have hope.

If the soft fur of a favored pet still feels pleasant under your fingertips,
then you still have hope.

If you meet new people with a trace of excitement and optimism,
then you still have hope.

If you give people the benefit of a doubt,
then you still have hope.

If you still offer your hand in friendship to others that have touched your life,
then you still have hope.

If receiving an unexpected card or letter still brings a pleasant surprise,
then you still have hope.

If the suffering of others still fills you with pain and frustration,
then you still have hope.

If you refuse to let a friendship die, or accept that it must end,
then you still have hope.

If you look forward to a time or place of quiet and reflection,
then you still have hope.

If you still buy the ornaments, put up the Christmas tree or cook the turkey,
then you still have hope.

If you still watch love stories or want the endings to be happy,
then you still have hope.

If you can look to the past and smile,
then you still have hope.

If, when faced with the bad, when told everything is futile,
you can still look up and end the conversation with the phrase...
"yeah....BUT.." then you still have hope.

Hope is such a marvelous thing. It bends, it twists, it sometimes hides,
but rarely does it break. It sustains us when nothing else can.

It gives us reason to continue and courage to move ahead,
when we tell ourselves we'd rather give in.

Hope puts a smile on our face when the heart cannot manage.

Hope puts our feet on the path when our eyes cannot see it.

Hope moves us to act when our souls are confused of the direction.

Hope is a wonderful thing, something to be cherished
and nurtured, and something that will refresh us in return.

And it can be found in each of us, and it can bring
light into the darkest of places.

Never lose hope.

~ Many Thanks to Robert

Small Dose of Hope....

When I was in my first year of college, I hit a stretch where every area of my life was a disaster, I felt hopeless and alone, and more depressed than I knew was possible.

On one such day, I was walking from class across campus to catch my bus home, head down, fighting tears of total despair, when a guy came down the sidewalk toward me. I had never seen him before. Embarrassed at being seen in such an emotional mess, I turned my head away and hoped to hurry past. I figured he'd walk on by, but he moved until he was directly in front of me, waited until I looked up, then smiled.

Looking into my eyes, this stranger spoke in a quiet voice: "Whatever is wrong will pass. You're going to be ok, just hang on." He, then, smiled again and walked away.

I can't explain the impact of that moment, of that man's unexpected kindness and unconditional caring! He gave me the one thing I'd lost completely: hope. I looked for him on campus, to thank him, but never saw him again.

That was thirty years ago. And I've never forgotten that moment. Over the years, whenever I see someone in distress, I think of that old man and try to give a glimmer of hope in the dark wherever I can -- carrying groceries for people, sitting with cranky babies in airport lounges while the mother got up and got herself food/restroom, talking to tired couples at the checkout line, it could be anything.

If you keep your head up, your heart will show you the place that need a small dose of hope.

-- by EsTeeBee