This year "Hope" became my perfect word.
In a previous post written January 13, 2013 I shared author Debbie Macomber's practice of selecting a special word for the new year.
"Kindness" was going to be mine but "Hope" kept appearing in a variety of ways and means. Apparently this was to be my selection.
Webster's Thesaurus describes "Hope" as anticipation, aspiration, assurance, belief, desire, expectancy, expectation, confidence, faith, optimism, prospect, trust.
Legendary positive thinker Norman Vincent Peale wrote an article in 1987 "Let Hope Light Your Way".
He pointed out that wishing and hope are not the same thing. Wishing differs in the fact that often when one wishes for something they do not believe it will come to be. Whereas "hope" holds that special ingredient - expectancy. It says that the desired outcome can happen.
The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 5:4 "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."
Friends it is my "hope" that no matter what difficult circumstances and challenges each of us may be facing - we will come through - we will emerge stronger - we will be filled with hope for a blessed 2017.
Hugs Debbie