The Thrill of Hope

 

               We made it to December, guys!!! In this weird, stressful, unexpected year that we thought might never end, we have finally made it to the finish line! We have also made it to Advent, which is the beginning of the new Christian year, and the wonderful time when we get to prepare our hearts for Christmas and the coming of Christ.

                While somethings are so very different this year, some things remain basically unchanged. While the number of parties and social obligations that I have this season have dropped to practically zero, I am still covered in Amazon boxes and wrapping paper as I work to make sure that my family all still have the gifts they want.  When I add to that the incredible generosity of our donors and the amount of boxes that have come in for our kids across the continuum, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and worn out, and lose the joy that is supposed to be associated with the giving of gifts.

                The theme of the first week of Advent is “Hope,” so I have been really trying to focus on hope and Christmas this week when I become stressed or tired. We have some really cool “Advent-in-a-Box” kits that we were able to get, and I’m using some of them as part of my weekly Bible study at the LR RTC. This week was all about hope as we made advent wreaths, made ornaments in which the kids listed their hopes, and listened to Christmas carols. As we listened, we looked for hope in the different songs. Some songs expressed hope that Santa would come down our chimney, some mentioned hope for snow or good food, and then of course the majority were about the hope that Israel (and now we) have in the coming Savior.

  “The thrill of hope” from O Holy Night is the lyric that is standing out to me this season. Our world needs hope right now. We need hope for a COVID cure, we need hope for less political divisiveness, we need hope that we can be together with our loved ones and church communities as we were before, and my goodness—how much hope do the kids and teens in our care need? Hope for mended families, hope for safe homes, hope for bright futures—they need all of the hope.

                In the midst of all of this need for hope, though, we have the best jobs. We are the hope-bringers! Both at work and in our personal lives, we get the express joy of being able to bring this thrill of hope to other people! We know what the Bible says-- that we have a hope that will certainly be fulfilled. Hebrews 10:23 reminds us to “…hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” GOD. IS. FAITHFUL. There is nothing more solid than that truth, except for maybe the fact that God is love. When we combine these two promises—that we are fully loved by a fully-faithful God—how can we not have hope?

                While the theme of Advent changes each week, Advent is also all about light. We light a different candle weekly to represent the theme and our moving through the season, and we want others to see that light that we have to give. Matthew 5:16 tells us to “Let our light so shine” so that others can see our lives pointing to our Father in Heaven.  This Little Light of Mine comes to mind. This season, when others so desperately need the hope that we have to give, may we not hide it under a bushel. May we let the light of hope shine brightly, catching everyone we meet in its glow. May we have the thrill of hope within, and may it radiate without, helping others navigate any darkness they may be up against.