Hope

If you can look at the sunset and smile, then you
still have hope.

If you can find beauty in the colors of a small
flower, then you still
have hope.

If you can find pleasure in the movement of a
butterfly, then you still
have hope.

If the smile of a child can still warm your heart,
then you still have hope.

If you can see the good in other people, then you
still have hope.

If the rain breaking on a roof top can still lull
you to sleep, then
you still have hope.

If the sight of a rainbow still makes you stop and
stare in wonder,
then you still have hope.

If the soft fur of a favored pet still feels
pleasant under your
fingertips, then you still have hope.

If you meet new people with a trace of excitement
and optimism, then you still have hope.

If you give people the benefit of a doubt, then
you still have hope.

If you still offer your hand in friendship to
others that have touched
your life, then you still have hope.

If receiving an unexpected card or letter still
brings a pleasant
surprise, then you still have hope.

If the suffering of others still fills you with
pain and frustration,
then you still have hope.

If you refuse to let a friendship die, or accept
that it must end, then
you still have hope.

If you look forward to a time or place of quiet
and reflection, then you still have hope.

If you still buy the ornaments, put up the
Christmas tree or cook the
turkey, then you still have hope.

If you still watch love stories or want the
endings to be happy, then
you still have hope.

If you can look to the past and smile, then you
still have hope.

If, when faced with the bad, when told everything
is futile, you can
still look up and end the conversation with the
phrase...
"yeah....BUT. ." then you still have hope.

Hope is such a marvelous thing. It bends, it
twists, it sometimes hides,
but rarely does it break. It sustains us
when nothing else can.

It gives us reason to continue and courage to move
ahead, when we tell ourselves we'd rather give in.

Hope puts a smile on our face when the heart
cannot manage.

Hope puts our feet on the path when our eyes
cannot see it.

Hope moves us to act when our souls are confused
of the direction.

Hope is a wonderful thing, something to be
cherished and nurtured, and
something that will refresh us in return.

And it can be found in each of us, and it can
bring light into the darkest of places.

Never lose hope.