Emily Dickinson wrote,

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops – at all -

And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard -

And sore must be the storm -

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -

And on the strangest Sea -

Yet – never – in Extremity,

It asked a crumb – of me.

I love that poem.  Hope is eternal, right?  Hope carries you through life’s storms.  It keeps you warm when you’re out of your element and Hope gives, it does not receive.  When you have Hope you have Faith; and with Hope and Faith you can accomplish a lot.

I recently read in the Oprah Newsletter of this courageous woman named Tererai Trent.  Her story is called Hope in a Box.

She recollects how she learned to read in secret by doing her brother’s homework.  She tells of being married at 11 and having 3 children by the age of 18.  Tererai comes from an African village.  Her marriage is a symbol of her village, their values and beliefs.

Tererai’s mother did not want her to live a life of poverty which was destined to be her legacy.  Tererai’s mother encouraged her in her desire for an education.

Tereai expressed this small, simple dream.  She wanted to move to America and obtain her BS, Master’s and doctorate degrees.  She wrote these dreams on a piece of paper and put them in a little tin box which she buried in the pasture where she tended cattle.

As luck would have it, she moved to America and was freed from the bonds of an abusive husband.  She attained each degree she dreamed of.  Each time she received her diploma she would return to Africa and unearth her Little Box of Hope to check off each of her achievements.

Today Tererai has a different legacy she shares with the girls of her village.  Now when she returns it is with pencil, paper and Little Tin Boxes of Hope she shares with these young women so that they too can write down their dreams and store them in this precious little box.  And these young women can have Hope that their dreams will come true.

I know that Hope has been a driving force for me.  First it was what kept me with my husband and in my marriage.  For a long time I had Hope that things would change for the better.

When they did not, then I had Hope that I could make things better for me and my children.  I think I have accomplished that.

I have Hope that all of my plans will work out the way I want them to.

I have Hope that all my hard work today will reap great rewards down the road.

I have Hope that I will be a home owner.

I have Hope that I will be found lovely and loveable by another man.

I have Hope that my children will grow up and grow old together, always as the best of friends.

I also ran across this great idea that epitomizes to me the concept of Hope.

I came across this in the Oprah newsletter.  It is a Dream Board.  You can download the template and make a Dream Board on your desktop  which is a very cool idea. 

Another spin on the Dream Board idea is to make it a family project with old fashioned poster board, glue sticks, scissors and lots of magazines. 

What do your children Hope/dream for?  What about the significant other in your life?  Yes, and what about you…don’t forget your dreams too.

Winter is coming and this seems to me like a perfect Sunday afternoon project.

Our Dream Board?  Well, the Toddler Hopes for chocolate birthday cake with Raspberries – two pieces, please.  I think The Baby Hopes to get control of those fingers and hands so food goes In more than On.

Me, I Hope the next season of our lives will be the best yet for me and my children.