HOUSE OF HOPE Friday, March 18
Psalm 30: 4-5: Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment: his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning. I believe I was raised in a house of Hope. I spent my childhood with two parents who both faced physical challenges in their lives. Like most kids, I was pretty sure my parents’ lives didn’t really start until I arrived, so I never really appreciated the attitude my parents had chosen when facing adversity in their lives until I was older. My mom uses a walker named Blanche. She actually owns several walkers, and they are all named Blanche. Blanche has been a part of our family for a while now, and her name is often used as if she were a person. “Excuse me, Blanche” is a phrase I’ve often used. I’ve realized there are a couple of reasons my mom has decided to name her walker. One is so that we don’t have to use the word “walker,” but the other reason is very sweet. My mom feels that by giving her walker a name, she can make the best of a situation when she is meeting new people or walking slowly through a room. By letting people know about Blanche, she is able to make them feel more at ease and give them a reason to laugh with her when they experience her as she continues to walk for as long as she can. My dad was also born with physical limitations. He required several surgeries on his feet in his early years until his late teens. Despite these challenges, my dad never set out or let his limitations dictate his life. Instead, he chose to play as many sports as he could while growing up. He would play goalie or catcher so that he wouldn’t have to move very far. Today, he focuses on taking care of his wife, kids, and grandkids, and playing golf as much as he can. I try to remember every day that I have been given so many gifts in my life, especially the gift of good health. I try to make the use of my (fairly) healthy body to serve my parents and my family who have not always had that opportunity. I don’t think that it’s an accident that my parents ended up together. They grew up in the same small town, and even had the same doctor, only discovering this in their twenties when they started dating. Watching my parents’ devotion to each other and the way they take care of each other has become an inspiration to me. I see them both living as hopeful people even as they are getting older and have new challenges. I think that is the greatest example of hope. When you know a situation may not get better or a problem may not be solved, you continue to live a life of hope, love, and gratitude. Gracious God, today I thank you for breath in my lungs and the ability to serve my family, friends, and you. Please give me strength and hope so that I can be strong for the people that need me. Amen Christine Simcox
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