Sitting by the river this morning, the word “hope” is running through my mind. I think of earlier in the morning when I read my devotion and the scripture from Psalms “Happy is he whose hope is in the Lord his God.” As the water flows past, I think of our hope in the river, our hope for its well being; its health and freshness; its provision of food for our bodies; and its provision of recreation for our souls. The river often restores my hope.

     A bird, sitting on a cattail nearby, reminds us of the hope it has on the darkest day of winter for it believes in spring. The bird also believes in its infinite care. I read a Chinese Proverb this morning that said, “If your heart will hold a bough of green, God will send a singing bird.” Here I pause to thank Him for the many singing birds He has sent me, especially since the first of June. One of the sweetest of my lifetime was when my spiritual grandson, Patrick Church, came to celebrate his fourth birthday. I only get to see this special family of my life four times a year. As Patrick came over to hug me and thank me for his birthday gift, he said, “I love you, I miss you, and I think about you all of the time.” This put a forever singing bird in my heart.

     September is bringing thoughts of the students across our land that will be coming to their teachers with hope in their eyes. The good teacher will see that hope and work hard to carry it to fruition. The good teacher will look into the eyes that seem to have no hope and give toward the “gift of hope”. Oh what a precious gift this is for the human heart. Teach your students to hope and then help carry them along the way to fulfilling their hopes and dreams.

     So many times in my life my situation seemed hopeless, but I always held on to hope. I knew a lady whose name was “Hope”. She was one of triplets named “Faith”, “Hope” and “Charity”. Hope lived a long, full life and the others died.

     Once I preached a sermon on 1 Peter 3:15. This is the true meaning of “hope”. “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear”. Let your hope be strong and sure like the river. 

© 2001 Florence Jenkins Muse All rights