What do you choose?

Hope or Despair? What do you choose?
Here is an excerpt from the Loux family blog. It is a quote that was given to Renee after her husband had died unexpectedly.
Click on the quote to go to the original post if you'd like.

[She] then began to share some reflections that her pastor had written while he was battling terminal brain cancer for over 19 months.
“Hope and despair are not opposites. They are cut from the very same cloth, made from the very same material, shaped from the very same circumstances. Most of all, every life finds itself forced to choose one from the other, one day at a time, one circumstance after another.

The only difference between the two is that despair shapes an attitude of mind; hope creates a quality of soul.

Despair colors the way we look at things, makes us suspicious of the future, makes us negative about the present.

Hope, on the other hand, takes life on its own terms, knows that whatever happens God lives in it, and expects that, whatever its twists and turns, it will ultimately yield its good to those who live it well. When tragedy strikes, when trouble comes, when life disappoints us, we stand at the crossroads between hope and despair, torn and hurting.

Despair cements us in the present; hope sends us dancing around dark corners trusting in a tomorrow we cannot see.

Despair says that there is no place to go but here. Hope says that God is waiting for us someplace else. Begin again.”

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
I thought I would share these words with you because they keep circling in my mind. Asking me what I have chose in past circumstances, what I would choose in a present or future circumstance, what and how I will pray for others around me who need hope. I pray that these words will bless someone else. Remind others to pray for hope. Reminding us that Hope is real. We are not alone. God is with us. We are God's children and we are not alone. Praise Him! Thank Him for loving us, for Hope and a future. A future where we will dance and sing.