Today I am going to start a 30 day Words and Pictures of Encouragement. It is my intention that we can encourage one another either with words and pictures we have created or ones that inspire us. The thought is that these simple ideas might resonate throughout our day and give us hope.

To live without hope is to cease to live.

~Fyodor Dostoevsky

Hope. It is one of the essential elements to life. Sure, we can have food, water, shelter, clothing. But if we do not have hope, as Dostoevsky noted, it is hard to press on. According to dictionary.com, hope is “a) desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment: expectation of fulfillment or success b) someone or something on which hopes are centered c) something desired or hoped for.” Hope inspires, motivates, gives us purpose and focus.

The verb form of hope is also crucial: “to cherish a desire with anticipation : to want something to happen or be true: to desire with expectation of obtainment or fulfillment: to expect with confidence : TRUST.” The act of wanting something, of pondering, of dreaming about a future or situation is also important to keep going. Even more so in this day and time. During this unsettling time, grab onto and hold on tightly to hope: to your future and to your plans.

What quotes about hope do you like? Have you ever given any thought about your hopes? What are they?

“For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” (Romans 8: 24-25)

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” ( 2 Corinthians 4: 16-18 )

“Hope” is the thing with feathers –

That perches in the soul –

And sings the tune without the words –

And never stops – at all –

And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –

And sore must be the storm –

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm –

I’ve heard it in the chillest land –

And on the strangest Sea –

Yet – never – in Extremity,

It asked a crumb – of me.

~Emily Dickinson