Hope

This morning, as Maisy was sitting in the bathtub, she pointed to the faucet and signed "please". I told her to scoot back, which she did, and I added hot water. She looked at me and smiled, then continued to splash. And that's when I realized we had just had a conversation, that volleying of talking, responding, talking back. It felt strangely hopeful.

We have a friend who is sick right now and we are worried for her and her family. Sadie mentioned to me a couple of days ago that she was "sending all my hope her way." I gave her a hug and told her prayers work miracles and that she should remember her in her prayers too. She said she already has been praying lots and lots.

I've been thinking about hope lately, as I often do and I wondered if hope is more an action than a feeling. It seems to me that hope is what spurs us to fight. To stand up for what we believe in or want so desperately. Maybe hope is the thing that keeps us from drowning in despair. The ember inside that turns us around, finds the faith amongst the fear, and ignites the fire within.

President Uchtdorf likens hope to confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance. I think most days, for me, hope is patient perseverance, but that is an action too, right. It's forward momentum. It is moving forward inspite of the endless whining and carrying, knowing that some day there will be communication and walking.

So then maybe hope is like paper airplanes we can fly our friend's way that she might know that we believe in the strength of the Lord and the miracles that happen everyday. Peter referred to hope as "lively." I like that. And again it feels like action. So, maybe hope is charity, moving us to not just have love, but to show it, and maybe the warmth of our hope and love is tangible enough to move mountains. "Where there is great love, there are always miracles." (Willa Cather) I believe in miracles.