PEACE

HOPE.....

I woke up Friday morning, Dec. 4th to the most beautiful ray of sunshine coming through my window as snow fell from the heavens sparkling off of Lake Macatawa. It was my Mom's birthday. I realized at that moment that HOPE really is put inside you...and you get to chose to see it...to feel it and experience it...to claim it. I get it....Jesus was born to give me HOPE. That is so much more special than any HOPE I can offer.

I then remembered a little devotional book I read with my Mom and Dad last fall...right before Mom really got sick. I remember discussing one reading with them and her answer being "I can answer this way because I think there is always HOPE". We got home tonight from Michigan and I found that devotional to look up what she was referring to. The devotional was on Daring to Dream.

God always rejoices when we dare to dream. In fact, we are much like God when we dream. Night shift shepherds don't usually get to hear angels sing and see God in a stable...but don't tell that to the Bethlehem bunch. -- And the Angels Were Silent

My belief in HOPE has really been tested this year. With so much 'bad' happening in the world...some right before my very eyes...still believing and having HOPE in things and people you never thought you would be in the position to question has seemed almost impossible.

I asked my Mom if she had a dream in her heart that day...and she answered...
"For Peace"......

This week, during the second week of Advent, my family will spend time talking about this word PEACE. I look to this week with a new found HOPE...one that comes from GOD...and HOPE that is in the memory of my Mom and HOPE that comes from me.

PEACE!!!