We have all heard adages through the years like, “Where there is life, there is hope.”, but have you ever hear this one:
For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. Ecclesiastes 9:4
When you think about it, it’s true – whatever way you say it – if there is breath in your body, no matter how weak you feel, how hopeless your situation, how miserable you feel your life is – if you can grasp hope that tomorrow can be better than today – than you gain strength, you gain faith that your situation can change, and you believe that something better is on the way!
What makes the difference between a man like Tyler Perry homeless, scrapping every day for his daily existence – and the multi-millionaire Tyler Perry today – a simple word, HOPE! When you think about it, it is the yeast that makes the bread rise in our lives; it is the candle that brings light to the darkest part of our soul.
This week HeartLife Ministries joined with GIFTS (Girls Interceding For the Season) in an effort to give the best gift God has given us this year. Silver and gold had we none, for in fact many of us have been challenged this year in our finances; what we could give was a message of hope – the blessed hope that gives strength from day to day – this gift is priceless to the one who will receive it.
And so we journeyed to a local nursing home -to share this hope with many who daily struggle with a feeling of hopelessness. We sang of a little baby born in Bethlehem, whose life “turned the world upside down.” We shared small gifts with the residents – in the spirit of the gifts given at Christmas to the Christ child.
And today we prepared and distributed to another local ministry bags and bags of coats, hats, scarves, shoes, and other clothing items so that those who need them can have them. My heart was rejoicing from the outpouring of generous support given by Board Members and friends of HeartLife! My cup runneth over!
Certainly hope came alive this Christmas season! And the really good news is – it has a way of reproducing itself!
Maria