As my thoughts turn towards Easter – the one word that springs to mind – is ‘HOPE’.

For – I am sure that – in the Biblical account of all that happened during that time – there were many who – having had their lives turned upside down – would have been clinging onto ‘ hope’.

But it’s true – as someone put it here – that – “Sometimes – life is just hard – but – Easter – is a message of HOPE”.

And – as it was – for so many – that first Easter – so today – we need to hold onto ‘Hope’ – in this world of ours – with all it’s uncertainties.

As I look back over my life – I can recall many times when – all I have had is HOPE.

I love how this quote puts it – “Drenched in the rain of challenge – HOPE is the umbrella – that keeps you dry”.

For me – that paints a lovely picture – of how – just over five years ago – we – ‘huddled under that umbrella of hope’ – as we faced the reality – that my daughter in law was dying. It was hope – that gave us strength – during those difficult days.

Someone said that – “Hope holds a breaking heart together” – and – it truly was a time – when we experienced the truth of those words – it was the hope we hung onto – that held our hearts.

And – it was – ‘hope’ – that kept us going – for – “Hope anchors the soul” – and as we clung onto that hope – we truly felt ‘anchored – and we were able to weather the storm that raged around us.

In fact – I’m not sure how we would have come through the whole experience – without that anchor.

That was not the only time in my life – when I have held tightly onto ‘hope’ – but it certainly was the hardest – and yet – emphasised the fact for me – that – ‘hope is never lost’ – it continues to remain – for it is – ‘infinite’.

The hardships – and disappointments in my life – however difficult – are – ‘finite’ – they come – and go – but – HOPE remains – or – to quote – “We must accept finite disappointments – but never lose infinite hope”.

So – I am grateful this Easter time – for the reminder – that Hope – is never lost – but gives me that ‘anchor’ – provides that – ‘umbrella’ – and hold me steady in life storms.

Blessings – Lois