In a previous daily meditation, I wrote about a birch tree that had been trimmed for utility reasons. I had watched over the course of about six weeks where it seemed like there was no sign of life remaining. Then suddenly, a few delicate branches began to grow and sprout tender new leaves. I wrote that regardless of how much life devastates us, no matter how dire the circumstances appear to be for a time, we can often come back thanks to our resilient spirits. 

 

I noticed about a year ago that the tree now appears to be lifeless. The new branches withered away and all that remains is the tall trunk cut off at about 8 feet high. I didn’t want to tell my readers the rest of the story, that the tree did eventually die. After pondering the fate of the tree every time I pass it on my walks, I’ve finally been given the lesson to go with it.

 

It’s true; some things do not work out the way we want. We have to accept that and let things go. We have to surrender and acknowledge that something or someone's time in our lives has come and gone and we must move on. Does that mean we don’t try again? Absolutely not. 

 

If we let our hopes die, we are also as good as dead. Marriages and businesses fail left and right but new marriages and businesses begin every single day. Why? Because many marriages and businesses still succeed. People still fall in love and entrepreneurs still believe in taking their shot at pursuing a dream. If we’ve been met with disappointment before, we can still hope that the next outcome can be fruitful. 

 

Mother Teresa suggested that regardless of how often our work or gestures will be rejected, we need to offer them anyway. What good is a life without hope? Hope is the lifeblood that propels us forward. Without it, we have no fuel to take us into the future. At least not into a future worth having. Surviving day to day without hope is not really living.

 

Regardless of the circumstances we are in and the negative forecasts we might be tempted to predict, we must forge ahead. That might mean letting things or people go and beginning something new or it might mean standing firm in our hope to give it one more day or one more try. To believe maybe this could be the day of breakthrough.

 

We need always be ready to receive the gifts from each circumstance, regardless of how things turn out. If we're honest, most things are a gift one way or the other. Maybe not immediately, but I choose to believe nothing is wasted and fruit can always be found in nearly every circumstance if we are open-minded. 

 

Let’s look and be open to where we can cultivate hope today, in ourselves as well as people we touch. Words give life so speak and think kindly today to yourself and to others. The tiniest gesture can restore hope to a smoldering wick that might otherwise go out.

 

For today, be courageous and choose hope anyway!

Cheers to a great week, noticing the gifts that matter most. Feel free to share this with a friend. Until next time...

 

To your gifts!

 

Angela

 

P.S.
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