lent devotion - don't give up hope

​Don’t Give Up Hope
by Anne DeBord

"Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever." Psalm118:1

When my oldest son was about ten years old, he took on the summer job of caring for the neighbors’ yard while they were on vacation. With extra effort and for a little surprise for them, he was arranging medium sized rocks around the outside edge of the pond. All was going well when he accidently dropped a rock on his right index finger and thumb causing blood to flow, pain to start and a short run home to Mom for a look. It looked bad enough for a trip to the doctor, and it was close enough to quitting time for Dad to come home and help out with the crisis trip. Dad could drive and Mom could soothe a scared child.

Causing more problems was the fact that my son was planning a trip with his grandparents to Spokane for the World’s Fair in just a few days. The doctor analyzed the situation, found the thumbnail broken as well as the finger and thumb and it required splinting. We were sure the trip would have to be cancelled, but to our surprise, the doctor said, “You can heal traveling as well as sitting around being depressed.”

“Thank God,” I said.

Our son’s accident didn’t ruin a blessed chance to go have fun with his grandparents. 

Praying in the crisis, along with us parents adding our layer of soothing, led to a very positive result. 

In simple daily life, we pray for a clear view in moving forward in hope for a good future. Amen.