Advent has always been a really special time for me. I have great childhood memories of growing up and having special traditions during Advent. Advent is the time of preparation and and expectant waiting for the celebration of the nativity of Christ. Sometimes it gets kind of lost in the whole “celebration” of the holiday. We are supposed to be preparing for Christ–not preparing for all the commercialism. I get lost in it all. I will be the first to admit that. It is not hard. I’ve got all the emails featuring the best deals along with the Black Friday and Cyber Monday thing going at times. I don’t think that there is really anything wrong with it as long as the real focus does not get lost.
This is the first week of Advent–the candle of Hope is lit. Hope can embody many things. According to Wikipedia hope is
Hope is the emotional state which promotes the belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one’s life. It is the “feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best” or the act of “look[ing] forward to with desire and reasonable confidence” or “feel[ing] that something desired may happen”. Other definitions are “to cherish a desire with anticipation”; “to desire with expectation of obtainment”; or “to expect with confidence”. In the English language the word can be used as either a noun or a verb, although hope as a concept has a similar meaning in either use.
During this time of expectant waiting and anticipation my “hope” for each of you is that you find hope of your own this season.
May your have HOPE this Advent season. Without HOPE we have nothing. I would love to read what gives you hope in the comment section today. Share your hopes with me.
12 Comments
Leave a commentA friendly smile from a stranger, the words I love you, acts of kindness like your comments for a cause, gives me hope. Have a meaningful advent season. xx
Perfect! Thank you!
Whenever I am on the edge of losing hope, a small kindness from a stranger restores it,
Yes! And I am sure you do those kindnesses as well! Thank you for stopping by, Bernadette.
What gives me hope? Knowing that this is not all there is. Knowing that the hate and brutality that always seems to be somewhere on this earth will not be forever. Knowing that someday I will be reunited with my Mom & Dad, my nephew, and all my loved ones who have gone on before me.
I love your comment and yes—I know that the hate and ugliness that shows itself so often is just something that we have to muddle through and keep positive while it swirls around us. I am hopeful that this is going to pass and we will be in a more positive place and environment soon.
Knowing that I am not alone in facing challenges gives me hope. I have God, supportive friends and a loving husband and others who are there for me.
Hope has been my focus word now for several years and remains so. Thank you for the refresher on the definition of hope.
Hope is such a wonderful focus word. It really does embody so much and is a great word to focus on every single day. You are surrounded by hope.
My children give me hope. Hope that the future might not be as bleak as it looks sometimes. Hope that they will spread their love and joy and bring happiness to others. Yes, they definitely give me hope…
Your children are certainly a great symbol of hope. I love this!
Remember Advent calendars? Opening a new door each day? Oftentimes with recycled calendars, from previous years? It was a simpler time, when something like that could be exciting to a kid…
Yep. We used them with the boys as well and they loved them but probably not as much as you and I loved ours as kids. Remember our Christmas Eve pajamas? With uncomfortable to sleep in tails attached? :-0