HOPE

A trace of last night’s snow covered some of the ground, with tips of grass peeking through.

Our first snowfall in over a year!

The sun was out, and had melted most of the little white dusting.

Two excited young brothers across the street were bundled up against the winter wind, swaying the barren trees.

One little boy had a snow saucer propped at the top of his yard’s short, gentle incline.

There was only a trace of snow at the bottom of the hill, and frozen grass at the top.

Sure enough, he got into the saucer, and it slid down the slope,

Stopping just short of his father’s wooden garden wall.

He was thrilled for the short ride!

It was a picture of hope:

Hope that the memory of snow on the grass would still make the saucer glide.

Hope that it would work again, as he scrambled the saucer up the hill once more.

Hope that he wouldn’t crash into the wooden wall. (Was he even aware of that possibility?)

Isn’t that our picture of faithful hope, too?

We have faith that things will work as we hope, going on past memories.

We scramble to prayer, hopeful in our relationship with Christ.

We trust in hope for protection.

We hope for a smooth ride.