Words of Hope: Giving Hope
I heard from two people last week that Dad’s “Words of Hope” book brought people comfort. One person gave the book to a family who lost a teenage son to suicide. Another person gave the book to a friend with cancer. Both parties have been reading the book. The friend with cancer said it had altered his mindset. Dad’s book inspired him to try a new cancer treatment that put his cancer in remission. What an image, giving a word of hope to people suffering the unimaginable! I was thinking about my daily habits—how many of these habits of mine center on giving others life, joy, encouragement, and hope? Just passing on a book full of the daily journey of a man wrestling with his mortality, grappling with finding hope while dying, has been life-giving to these individuals. Indeed this is where wisdom comes—not from the news but people seeking the face of God, people seeking truth and goodness, not perfection and sanctimoniousness, but honest, vulnerable living—who aspire to walk through this life, often filled with suffering, with hope. Everyone we meet today needs hope needs courage. I love the image of physically handing someone a word of hope. How can I make that part of my daily habit?
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:31
