Being a Messenger of Hope
Being a Messenger of HopeOn this first Sunday of Advent, we celebrate HOPE — the great expectation that something good is on its way — by lighting the first candle (the HOPE candle) on the Advent wreath. Advent means a coming or arrival, especially of something or someone extremely important. In biblical terms we speak of the four weeks before Christmas as the Advent season, when the Lord left heaven and came to earth to be born of a virgin to dwell among man. It’s a time when we prepare our hearts as we remember the birth of our Lord and Savior. While enjoying carols, visits to see Santa, chestnuts roasting, baking Christmas goodies and gift giving, we can still ponder Advent. It keeps us remembering the reasons for this glorious season. It’s about hope.
The birth of Christ gives us the hope for living life trusting, believing, and expecting that all He’s promised will be ours if we patiently wait for His perfect plan for our lives. As we wait, we can deepen our relationship with God, knowing that the sweet infant in the manger is really our triumphant King of Kings. That precious baby grew up, and He sacrificed His life so that we can live a life of hope and great expectation.
So, do you have your hope up? Are you a hope messenger or are you a VDP (very draining person)? How do people feel around you? Do they feel more or less hopeful? Are we hope messengers who make people feel encouraged, cared for, and uplifted. In other words, do people feel more hopeful because they’ve spent time with us?
I can’t help but think about the people who have given me hope over the years. Whether it was an encouraging word from a friend who helped me push through a day that seemed so overwhelming, or a boss who had more faith in me than I had in myself (true story) – who gave me so much hope in myself that I could attain that position that seemed beyond my reach. My husband was a hope messenger. I am positive, capable, strong, self-sufficient, peace and joy-filled because he was relentless in pouring into me hope and encouragement. I can be a hope messenger because I knew and know hope messengers.
One of the great things about getting older is the opportunity to share the lessons I’ve learned in life. Helping people to believe that tomorrow can be better than today is an incredible gift and can change lives in powerful ways. What about you? Do “your” people leave you feeling more or less hopeful? It’s time to get our hope up and our “expectors” expecting. Let’s be hope messengers so others become hope messengers, too!