Here is to Hoping
Just a few short months ago those four words, "Here is to hoping," felt like a slap in the face. What was meant to be an offering of positivity and support instead felt like an expectation of failure. I guess how we interpret certain things is all about the state our hearts and minds. At the time, my heart and mind was in rough shape; I didn't feel hopeful so the message was interpreted as an insult.I have yet to publish a post that directly deals with the fact that we have just rung in a new year. I have been pondering my resolutions and have decided that I have a few things that I would like to add to 2017 to help make it a better year and to help me feel like I am really engaging in life. This post crops up from a place of deep longing to feel hope. Hope for a beautiful, loving and joyful 2017.Currently, I am experiencing some really incredible things in my heart and my life, things that I am not yet ready to share on my blog. I find myself repeating the phrase, that a few short months ago, was nothing but an insult to me. Here is to hoping. It has become a sort of mantra for me in the last few days. Hope. Something so many of us struggle with, and up until just a few months ago, I struggled greatly with.I can list so many reasons why I shouldn't have hope for beautiful things to happen but you know what, my heart just wants to feel hopeful. So instead of trying to convince myself of reasons why not to hope I am going to just let my heart hope. I am going to have hope that the love will win. I am going to have hope that even in the midst of so much brokenness, fear and hatred that healing will happen, peace will triumph and love will always win. And do you know why I will cling to that hope? I cling to that hope because I see so many beautiful, hardworking, loving, kind and giving humans working to keep hope alive all over this world.Over Christmas my mom and I went to visit my brother and his fiancé. During our visit my brother insisted that we all go see the most recent Star Wars film, Rogue One. I am so glad he insisted we go see it because one of the central themes of the film is hope and the main character, Jyn says one of the greatest quotes: "We have hope. Rebellions are built on hope!"--Jyn (Star Wars: Rogue One). *Spoiler Alert: If you have not seen the movie, I suggest you skip the next part*This quote stood out to me, as I sat on the edge of my seat and watched Jyn deliver a powerful and inspiring speech, encouraging rebel forces to take a leap of faith I found myself inspired! Her speech does instill hope in some rebels (and certainly instilled hope in me!) and it is because of this hope that the rebellion was able to continue. The movie ends with Princess Leia receiving key information and when asked what they have received she claims, "They have given us hope."So that, my friends, is what I am trying to give to you--a reason to hope.I am determined that 2017 will be marked by hope. Hope that the darkness will not overcome light. Hope that love will win. Hope in the people that I love and who are doing brave, incredible and lovely things. And hope in God.So, Here is to Hoping!Psalm 39:7:"'And now, O Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you."Now my friends, May the Force be with you!Peace, Joy, Blessings, HOPE and So Much Love,Margaret