The Seasons of Hope

© Angela Beatty 9/10

Jeremiah 17:7-8

Blessed is the man who trusteth in the Lord,

and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as

a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth

forth her roots by the river, and shall not see when

the heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and

she shall not be careful in the year of drought

neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hope is a gift from God

and an integral part of the soul

that follows us through the seasons of our lives.

In Spring

Hope's flame burns bright when the birds joyously shout their songs from the trees. It grows within us everytime we spy flowers pushing their heads from the earth, when we inhale the smell of rain, and with the soft sound of the ground drinking in the water. When all of our tomorrows look promising, hope is close and easy to hold on to.

"The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created Spring." Bern Williams

In Summer

Green fields and blue summer skies fan the flames of hope. Even the heat doesn't stifle the feeling that our dreams are ripening and a season of harvest and plenty is near.

"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without words and never stops." Emily Dickenson

In Autumn

The migrating birds seem to gather hope on their wings as they take flight for the winter. And yet a small flame still lingers in the knowledge that they will return. Hope flickers gently, poised and waiting.

"All human wisdom is summed up in two words - wait and hope. Alexander Dumas

In Winter

The season of death and cold does it's best to extinguish the flame of hope - sucking from the soul of mankind it's reason for existence. The long, frigid and gray days steal the light from eyes, and darken the world. And yet, somewhere deep within a small flame still smolders waiting for a tiny wisp of fresh air to rekindle the flame.

"In the night of death, hope sees a star, and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing." Robert Ingersoll