Hope

Our family Christmas card this year includes my daughter’s painted wreath with the word "hope." When she was working on it we talked about what word to put in the middle. We could have done the typical Christmas greeting “Merry Christmas” or one of my favorite words, “joy.” But out of all the options this year the word “hope” seems most appropriate.

Hope doesn’t suggest all things are well. Hope doesn’t require fake sentimentality. Hope is not based on our current context but the cosmic reality that Christ has won, he is the victor over death, and he will come again. Hope is born of faith that the Christ-child in the manger is the savior of the world. Our hope is what leads to that quiet and confident peace in the face of much sorrow. Hope even gives way to joy.

So this year our family’s prayer is for people to find and hold on to hope. That is our prayer for you as well.

“For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits; truly my hope is in you.”
—Marty Haugen