I’d like to tell you about my friend Hope. She is one of my oldest and dearest friends. She is a truly beautiful, inspiring person, not just in my eyes, but in many others eyes too. As a matter-of-fact, I can’t remember too many times that she hasn’t been there by my side. And the times she wasn’t with me… well, those are the times that I was silly and pushed her away because I didn’t think I needed her to be there.

“Hope never abandons you, you abandon it.”
~George Weinberg



Hope loves to travel and she has been with me through many journeys. I enjoy traveling too, but she’s the pro, and much better at reading maps than I am. Many times, I have become lost. I’m just not that great at directions. But every time I have lost my way, Hope has been there to point me down the right road. Sometimes, I may not agree with the way she thinks I should go, but it has been the times that I didn’t listen that I thought I might be lost forever.

Poem for Hope~
A Hong Kong Proverb
As long as we have hope,
we have direction,
the energy to move,
and the map to move by.
We have a hundred alternatives,
a thousand paths and infinity of dreams.
Hopeful, we are halfway to where we want to go;
Hopeless, we are lost forever.


Hope is my biggest encourager and supporter. She has always been there to cheer me on. In high school, she was the best cheerleader on the squad. Each time I have attempted to lose weight, she’s been right there with me, telling me I could do it. When I had a craving for something I knew I shouldn’t have, I’d called her and she’d tell me not to eat it. When I was frustrated by the numbers on the scales, she’d tell me to keep up the good work, and that next time they’d be better. When I didn’t think I could walk another lap, she’d say, come on, you can do one more.
“When the world says, "Give up,"
Hope whispers, "Try it one more time."
~Author Unknown

Hope loves my family almost as much as I do and spends much time with them too. The night my Dad almost asphyxiated himself while mixing cleaning fluids, she told me everything would be okay. When I tried and tried to get pregnant, she told me someday I’d be a wonderful mother. When my son was born weighing 3 lbs. 10 oz., she said he’d grow big and strong. She was my constant companion through my daughter’s illness and death, and never left my side during my divorce. When my Mom had her scare with "cancer", she'd tell me it wasn't time for her to go . Hope, herself is a wonderful Mother.

"Hope has two beautiful daughters - their names are anger and courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are."
~ St. Augustine


When I look back at my life, I wonder at times, how I ever made it to the next day. And when I reflect on all those times, I know that it was because Hope never stopped holding me in her arms and I never let go.

“Never let go of hope. One day you will see that it all has finally come together. What you have always wished for has finally come to be. You will look back and laugh at what has passed and you will ask yourself... 'How did I get through all of that?”
~ Author Unknown



I got through all of that with my friend Hope… I’d like you to meet her sometime soon. She’d love to be your friend too !