The virtue of hope makes a difference in our lives. If we have hope, we will think and act differently from those who have little or no hope. The essence of hope is the firm conviction that a better world is possible. Hope is rooted in the promises of Jesus: “I am with you always… the Kingdom of God is within you and among you…” If this is true, then what are some of the signs that we are people of hope? There are several. Here are five of them. (This reflection is adapted from chapter 18 in my book, Hanging onto Hope.)
People of hope believe that God loves us madly and desires only good for us. This conviction frees hopeful people from excessive worrying. I say “excessive worrying” because a certain amount of worrying is part of the human condition. But excessive worrying can fill us with anxiety and dread. It can even paralyze us, thus preventing us from doing the good God is asking us to do. I’m reminded of the Peanuts cartoon in which Linus and Charlie Brown are sitting on a log. Linus says to Charlie Brown, “You look kind of depressed,” and Charlie responds, “I worry about school a lot.” In the next frame he says, “I worry about worrying so much about school.” And in the final frame, he says, “My anxieties have anxieties!” If we have hope, our anxieties will not have anxieties. Instead we will remember those words from scripture, “Cast all your worries upon God because God cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:7).
If we have hope, we will be open and welcoming of life. Hopeful people believe that the primary way we encounter the Living God is through the “stuff” of our everyday lives. Therefore, we have a positive attitude towards the people, events, and experiences that comprise our daily lives. An image might help here. Hopeful people do not live in a house with doors bolted, windows shuttered, and a doormat that says, “Go Away!” Rather, hopeful people live in a house with the door unlocked, the windows wide open, and a bright doormat that says, “Welcome!” They know that our God is a God of surprises and can show up on our doorstep in amazing ways. (Obviously, I am NOT literally saying we should never lock our doors…)
Hopeful people remain open to life even when their hearts have been broken. I read a story about a 10-year-old girl who had a pet goldfish that she loved. But it died. So she got another one and loved it too. Eventually it died, so she got a third one. After the third goldfish died, the little girl wrote this poem:
After my third goldfish died,
I said, I’m through with goldfish.
But I didn’t mean it.
To me, that’s hope.
Hopeful peoeple live lives marked by generosity and service. They do not conserve their giving or hold back their loving. They are so in touch with the prodigality of God’s love, that they are eager to share this kind of love with others. They remember Jesus’ image of the sower who sowed the seed generously with a wide arc. And they recall St. Paul’s counsel to “sow bountifully” (2 Cor. 9:6), trusting the One who supplies rich seed for the harvest.
And finally, hopeful people are grateful people. It’s as simple as that. On any given day, they are quick to find reasons to be grateful. They are grateful for the gift of their own particular life… for their loved ones who enrich their life in countless ways… for their faith, for the life and teachings of Jesus, for God’s presence in our world… for the material blessings they have been entrusted with… for their ability to give and receive love… and for this beautiful planet we are privileged to call home.
For reflection:
Does your life show any of these signs that you are a person of hope?
Are any of these signs missing in your life?
Would you add any other signs that someone is a person of hope?
Here’s a nice gentle Amy Grant song called, “Don’t Try So Hard.” The lyrics reflect some of the thoughts in this reflection….
I hope you might take a minute and write a comment below. We all love hearing from one another…
29 Responses
Good morning, Sr. Melannie…
Good morning, all…
Happy Labor Day! Thank you for these truly hope-filled words. School starts tomorrow, and as I’m sure you know these days teenagers are suffering from stress like never before. I so much want my students to read this blog. Perhaps these words filled with hope will also become words filled with healing. “Dismiss all anxiety from your mind. Present your needs to God in every form of prayer and in petitions full of gratitude” (Philippians 4: 4-7). Again, thank you!
John: Your insights are always appreciated from Melannie’s blog. I didn’t know you were a teacher until I read your reply today. You might enjoy something from my blog today about teachers and Jesus’s love for children…
Hi Mary Ann,
Thank you! I will check out your blog!
Our family continues to Zoom every other week from across the country and the world. It gives us hope that we can be a family despite the distance. God bless!
Beautiful song!
Thanks Melannie for sharing your generous gifts to inspire many with your blog. Blessings and prayer, Sr. Julie
My husband died on August 31…It is a painful lonely time …I am holding on to hope!Please keep me in your prayers.
Thank you.
Loraine,
It is till so raw and painful….I remember it well…you are in my prayers during this vulnerable time when you are trying to find hope in the midst of your sorrow…
Blessings and prace,
Mary N.
Dear Loraine, my prayers are with you in abundance. The ninth anniversary of my dad’s passing was August 31. By God’s grace, I’ll be remembering you on this date now, as well.
Loraine, My deepest sympathy to you on the death of you dear husband. I’m sure I speak for all my readers when I say I will hold him, you, and your family in my prayers during your time of loss. May you feel the support of our prayers… Melannie
Loraine. I lost my sister a little over a month ago. Death takes the joy out of life, but I have found that listening to others’ memories of my sister has brought some joy back into my life. Know that you will be in my thoughts and prayers as you journey through the loss of your beloved husband. Martha
Dear Loraine: I am so very sorry for your loss. I lost my husband in an auto accident. I can relate to your shock and sadness. Please know that you are covered by the blood of Jesus in your sadness and grief. Allow Him to be your constant companion in these hard days. I will be praying for you along with the many who have seen your post. Blessings.
Michelle
Hopeful people firmly believe that Jesus Christ, by His cross and resurrection, has set us free.
Melanie,
Happy and Blessed Labor Day,
Thank you for the wonderful reflection and song on Hope.
It certainly gives us a positive way to reflect on Hope.
Have a great week!
Jane, CSA
Thank you, Sister Melannie. I am a new Associate and received two of your books – Gracious Goodness and Traits of a Healthy Spirituality – as a gift from Sister Donna Daniels, my Spiritual Director. I am looking forward to reading them. I am also an author and recently visited Sister Kathleen Glavich in Chardon, Ohio. I am new to your blog and look forward every Monday to receive your insight on different topics. I have a Catholic Travel Blog that can be found on my website at http://www.denisemercado.com The Florida Associates are planning a visit to Chardon in September 2025. I hope to schedule a time to meet you then. God bless!
Blessings!
Thank you, Melanie!
I find hope in, “I will hold myself to a standard of grace not perfection.” (sign from the song) All week at various moments I would find myself thinking “Jesus did not say…”
Your sharing is not a one and done for me. I frequently go back to “columns” of the past weeks. Thank you! Peace-Prayers-Pat Warbritton csj
In this world of today, how could we keep our sanity without hope?
I always look forward to seeing Sunflower Seeds in my inbox. Thank you for the gift of hope. And, I loved the song.🎶
Dear Melannie, I agree that we all need hope, a special grace from God. On the other hand, we ought to be meek as doves and sly as serpents (sage advice of Jesus). Trust a stanger? It would be prudent to ask for references, especially from people you already trust. Paul said it very well concerning worry: Do not worry about anything; pray about everything. And Padre Pio said, Pray, hope and don’t worry. (In a jocular vein, we also have the Irishman’s philosophy, which begins, “There are only two things to worry about.”) I trust God is with us, so I don’t worry to excess–just a little, until I remember.
I have a prison pen pal who more and more is demonstrating to me the HOPE he feels, even in his dire living situation. In the last 9 months or so he told me he decided he wanted to become Catholic, but because the prison won’t allow him/them to be baptized, he himself has decided to baptise others who have the same desire….he prays over the water and fervently believes that God is blessing the “sacrament” and goes ahead and baptizes them. He said that he feels such a fervor for Christ that he believes he(Christ) is right there with him.
If that doesn’t model HOPE, I don’t know what does.
May we all have an abundance of hope that will flow out to others we encounter in our lives.
Thank you S. Melannie,
Mary N.
Thank you for this reflection Melannie. I read & re-read your book “Hanging Onto Hope” at least twice a year and get new insights every time. I agree with Jim, how can we survive one day without hope?
Beautiful & hope filled song, one from Amy Grant I hadn’t heard before.
Here’s a little extra encouragement from scripture today. These are a few of the verses I have printed on study cards as quick reminders to not forget to keep my hope in the Lord. He is always mindful of our needs and circumstances.
“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His Word I put mt hope.” Psalm 130:5
“But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love.” Psalm 33:18 “We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.” Psalm 33:20
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12
” ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future,’ ” Jeremiah 29:11
“…but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31
“And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.” Romans 5:2-5
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 10:23
This touched my heart when I read the part about locking doors and signs saying “go away.” I actually have a friend who lives this way. I never thought about her not being a hopeful person — but I now see a totally different side of her and have a new prayer intention for her. Thank you for inspiring this new insight for me.
Sister Amelia shared this with me this morning, it couldn’t have come at a better time. Thank you !!!
Thank you, Melanie! I will use your book and the booklet:What Pope Francis Says About Hope- in our Lenten Studies in this jubilee year of hope during lent with our Social Justice Committee here at Old Mission Church, SanLuis Obispo, Ca.
Thank you Sister Melannie!
My inspiring freshman NDA teacher back in 1968! Love your blogs and I forward them to my grandchildren in Ks, NC, and NJ.
Our son PatrickRohearn.com is a Catholic writer and spoke at St. Helens Newberry, OH. Appreciate your prayers.
I am truly amazed at how much God loves me and everyone! I am going through a horrible divorce after being married after 37 years and Domestic Violence. My elderly mother fell days after the incident and almost died in front of me. And yet, my Catholic faith has brought me through this storm and constant surrender and prayers by my loved ones, strangers, and parish family.
I am SO grateful for your positive message on hope, Sr. Melanie! I felt God telling me the exact words of Amy Grant’s song that you chose:”Don’t Try to Hard!” WOW, what a validation of God’s love for us all, as I am now living with my elderly mother with limited mobility and their are challenges at times.
Thank you and God bless you,
Catherine M.
Dear Sister Melannie,
Your messages are always inspiring, uplifting and a reminder of God’s presence in our lives.
Thank you.
Priscilla Gray Plott
Dear Sister Melanie,
As caregiver for my husband w dementia and now experiencing a health issue that needs to be diagnosed your message came at a perfect time. And Amy Grant’s song Don’t try so Hard just may be that diagnosis! Your message reminded me to ease up on the worrying! I’m in good hands! I always know that but it’s good to hear it again. Thank you.