More Then Christmas (part 1 - Hope)

We easily get consumer minded at this time of year. So, I am doing a blog series over the next four weeks on things to think about. Positive things as the year comes to a close. These are the four things the advent candles stand for. But, you don't have to be Christian to appreciate them.

As an Episcopalian I celebrate Advent. It's the four weeks before Christmas. Each week has a different meaning. I talked about them in a blog series years ago. "Forgotten Holidays: Advent".

https://homewithmommy-fran.blogspot.com/2014/12/forgotten-holidays-advent-part-4.html

1. Hope
2. Peace or Preparation
3. Joy
4. Love

http://www.stjohns-saginaw.org/advent-wreaths-arnt-just-for-church/

Hope:

I hope the homeless find a home.
I hope the sick are healed.
I hope anyone suffering finds relief.
I hope for compassion for those who are different from us.
I hope for strength for those victims who need to fight back.
I hope for financial relief for those who are struggling.
I hope for generosity towards those who need it.
I hope for everyone to be loved.
I hope for everyone to have plenty of food.
I hope for violence to end.
I hope for a government for those that can't afford to buy lawmakers.
I hope for everyone to be equal.
I hope we all find things to be grateful for.
I hope for the end of prejudice.
I hope everyone who is struggling with an internal or external battle finds relief.

Hope is such an important thing. We need that positivity to make it through hard times. We all have things we hope for big and small. While kids are frequently saying the sentence "I hope I get _____ for Christmas". It's important for our hope to not always been about consumerism.

Hope is about the future. It's about looking at today and saying "what do I want to be better?" It's about believing the future can be better. It's about trusting in something. Trusting that there is a reason for everything and problems can be solved.

Hope is used in so many sentences regularly:

I hope the Yankees win today.
I hope my son makes the travel team.
I hope you have a good day today.
I hope you feel better tomorrow.
I hope you aren't late.
I hope you have a Happy Holidays!
I hope this diet works.

Those are sentences I say a lot. But, we all have our version of those. Positive statements meant to show faith that something positive can happen in the future. Sometimes we say "hope" sentences out of reflex. "I hope you feel better tomorrow." Is really just a way to show you care. But, it's still something positive you want to happen in the future.

This week think about what you hope for in the future. In the month of December, in 2019, or beyond. It doesn't matter if it's a big thing or a small thing. Hope means happiness and that's something we all need.