Encouragement is contagious…
…it grows hope.
Ninety minutes on the phone with a single, dear, at-a-distance friend…
…mutual encouragement.
Which led us to hope…
…for each other’s work, first.
For our own passions, next.
We cannot underestimate the power of encouraging others,
For their sake and
For our own.
A distressing photo twenty-four hours later in a newspaper -
A scene too graphic to describe, too real to deny.
Anger and blame welled up – “Inappropriate!”
Then despair at the truth of it.
I had to go back to those strong wise ones for another dose of hope.
One person’s expression of despair-turned-courage led to a roomful of hopeful people.
Even the soon-death of a parent…
…became a reason to embrace the gratitude of this moment and hope for a motherless future
Soothed by a sister-filled one.
Then resolve bolstered by courage.
Like a well, hope is replenished from the bounty of the earth, of gentle cleansing sprinkles,
And torrents of winter powerwashing.
But it can always, always, be refilled…
For hope is not a denial or subjugation of the hard stuff;
It is an acknowledgement and embracing of it…
Coupled with the courage to nourish others
And to move forward doing our own divine job in the world.
Simple –
Give encouragement.
Feel the growing of hope within.
All blog images created and/or photographed by Jennifer J. Wilhoit unless otherwise noted.
