Tuesday, January 03, 2012

2012 - Year of Hope

The idea to give a word, or a name to the year did not originate with me.  I borrowed it after reading Ann Voskamp's blog, A Holy Experience.  This resonated with me, and I knew immediately that My word for this year needed to be "HOPE".


I walked outdoors and heard the bean pods rustle and rattle in the wind. They are shriveled and dried and apparently lifeless.  In hope, I gathered up the pods and tore out the vines tiding up this bed for the winter and covering it with spent hay.
 Later inside the boys joined me in breaking the pods open and collecting the beauty from within. What appears dead is actually a dormant life of bounty that waits for the warm breath of spring.


This is a reminder to hope, to believe even when the marks of death are written everywhere and the cold wind bites and stings bringing tears to my eyes. I am startled with the realization that this is a parable of life.  Simple and profound, and I whisper thank you, because I needed this moment of realization.


    " Hope abides; therefore I abide.
Countless frustrations have not cowed me.
I am still alive, vibrant with life.
The black cloud will disappear,
The morning sun will appear once again
In all its supernal glory. "
- Sri Chinmoy
A quick search in BlueLetterBible and hope shows up 130 times.  I am reading these verses, reminding myself again and again.  It is, after all, the only reason we have for hope.  He is Hope, our only hope.

Psa 31:24Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.
Psa 33:18Behold, the eye of the LORD [is] upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

And so I trust.............. and I hope in Him ..............and through Him.
I am choosing not to give up, choosing to believe in new life and restoration.  Choosing to hope........this is my year of hope.


Definition of HOPE

intransitive verb
1: to cherish a desire with anticipation
2archaic : trust
transitive verb
1: to desire with expectation of obtainment
2: to expect with confidence : trust
: to hope without any basis for expecting fulfillment


Have you ever named a year?  Did you name this year?  Would you share your story with me? 
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6 comments:

  1. CarolJanuary 4, 2012 at 9:40 PM

    Thank you for sharing this sweet bit of encouragement with us. There is a verse that keeps coming back to me, that gives me hope, I thought I'd share with you.
    2 Cor. 4:7 "We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
    8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;
    9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
    10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies."
    Keep up your courage sis. I love you!
    Your little sis. Carol

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  2. kimberlyJanuary 7, 2012 at 8:39 PM

    Leann,
    I have to tell you how moved I was by your comments and by the comments of your sister. What beautiful treasures you both have given to me in "jars of clay" by your insights to the living Word and how that is manifest in our lives. Thank you, you have inspired me. Your writing has gently lifted my chin to meet the eyes of the One who gives us hope.
    Your big sister in Christ (I am older, you know),
    Kimberly

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  3. missionarymommaJanuary 9, 2012 at 12:36 AM

    I love your writting. What an encouragement. Hope. I shall always link the word hope with bean pods.

    I have never named a year. I like the idea. I have a hard enough time just naming our children :-)

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  4. AnonymousJanuary 18, 2012 at 2:10 PM

    My word of the year is freedom and I am so excited to see what God is doing! LOVE YOU ♥Tancy

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  5. aubreyJanuary 19, 2012 at 4:39 AM

    Loved this post! Your words were beautiful! :) I've heard of people naming their new year...I don't know what I'd call this year...just found out michael is for sure deploying in a few short months. :( I borrowed your blog idea for a blog post too...will try to post tonight. And hope is what I lean on for sure to get me through from day to day...hope inspires and energizes our future outlook. I'm so thankful for that Hope! Miss and love you xo

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  6. The Strubhar FamilyJanuary 24, 2012 at 8:29 AM

    I think my word for the year is trust. My picture is a little child looking up to her Daddy adoringly. I want that to be true of me this year. So much lies ahead shrouded in the unknown...changes...what? But my Father holds my hand, and underneath are the everlasting arms. Thanks for sharing this inspiration with me. You sis, Lisa

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