Just over a year before Greg was diagnosed with bone cancer, Mark and I put extra effort into our marriage and our spiritual foundation. We worked on filling our spiritual “well.” Looking back we knew that this was the secret to surviving this type of trial. By the time that year had ended we were completely drained. If we had started on half-empty I don’t know how we would have pulled through.

I have been trying to put into words what I am feeling this week about “HOPE.” Some people have lovingly said that they know I was disappointed in Mark not being healed or not having things turn out as we had hoped. As much as I appreciate their concern I have to say that “disappointed” is not something that I have been experiencing. Devasted? Yes. Distressed? Yes. Depressed? A bit. But not disappointed.

Yes, we had hoped for a miraculous recovery – but I think the secret here is that we had hoped at all. I think that we filled ourselves with hope. Our focus was on hope. Then, Mark was gone but hope remained. My “well” of hope was full and though there may be an occasional leak, I am trying to not let it drain.

We may have hoped FOR a recovery, but our hope was IN our Savior. It was about trusting God then and it is about trusting God now. I cannot lose that trust because I am sure that there are many more hardships to encounter before this life is over. I must replenish my well each day. Even when I am sad and lonely I can hope for things, I can hope in things. You can help me and I can help you.

One month before Mark died I wrote that wherever there are birds there is hope. I guess wherever there is sunshine there is hope. Wherever there are flowers, wherever there are fountains, wherever there are friends…. wherever there is beauty – there is God – and thus we can have hope.

 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God. Psalm 146:5

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast… Hebrews 6:19

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:13

Wherever There Are Birds