Hope....(a little long but worth it)

As some of you know, I have had a rough time in the last few weeks. A very dear friend of mine sent this to me....at just the right time. For all of us dealing with things post op, I thought I would share this with you.

Hope

If you can look at the sunset and smile,
then you still have hope.

If you can find beauty in the colors of a small flower,
then you still have hope.

If you can find pleasure in the movement of a butterfly,
then you still have hope.

If the smile of a child can still warm your heart,
then you still have hope.

If you can see the good in other people,
then you still have hope.

If the rain breaking on a roof top can still lull you to
sleep, then you still have hope.

If the sight of a rainbow still makes you stop and stare in
wonder, then you still have hope.

If the soft fur of a favored pet still feels pleasant under
your fingertips, then you still have hope.

If you meet new people with a trace of excitement and
optimism, then you still have hope.

If you give people the benefit of a doubt,
then you still have hope.

If you still offer your hand in friendship to others that
have touched your life, then you still have hope.

If receiving an unexpected card or letter still brings a
pleasant surprise, then you still have hope.

If the suffering of others still fills you with pain and
frustration, then you still have hope.

If you refuse to let a friendship die, or accept that it
must end, then you still have hope.

If you look forward to a time or place of quiet and
reflection, then you still have hope.

If you still buy the ornaments, put up the Christmas tree or
cook the turkey, then you still have hope.

If you still watch love stories or want the endings to be
happy, then you still have hope.

If you can look to the past and smile,
then you still have hope.

If, when faced with the bad, when told everything is futile,
you can still look up and end the conversation with the
phrase...."yeah....BUT.." then you still have hope.

Hope is such a marvelous thing. It bends, it twists, it sometimes
hides,
but rarely does it break.
It sustains us when nothing else can.
It gives us reason to continue and courage to move ahead,
when we tell ourselves we'd rather give in.

Hope puts a smile on our face when the heart cannot manage.

Hope puts our feet on the path when our eyes cannot see it.

Hope moves us to act when our souls are confused of the
direction.

Hope is a wonderful thing, something to be cherished and
nurtured, and something that will refresh us in return. And it can
be found in each of us, and it can bring light into the darkest of
places.

Never lose hope.

~Author Unknown

Marie,That was so touching Thank you for sharing. Hang in there I hope things get better for you.

Thank you Marie you right this came at the right time my spirits are a little lower then they should be but thank go d for all of you. all i keep heaing is oh you should have this surgeyr it will make them worse. well i have to try i can't get pain managemnet and really don't want to live with these either i have a family i feel like i'm missing. i'm sure you know what i mean there i think we all do. thank you for sharing sweetie. warm and gentle hugs to you

Thank you for taking the time to share this with us. It is Beautiful.

Thanks for that. Obviously I must still have hope! (That's probably got something to do with the fact that on Monday I will find out what's going on with me after 7 & 1/2 loooooooooooooooong months.)
Hugs to you!

Marie,
Thank you for sharing that wonderful poem. I too am having a horrible time all of a sudden. It lifted my spirits, and helped make me feel a little less hopeless. Thanks again!

btsmom,
How more eloquently can HOPE be put put into a poem such as that. I have been reflecting on hope over the past few days. I thought for a while I was sinking so deep in to despair that I almost lost HOPE. But luckily I never lost it and have decided to build on my HOPE for myself, my family, my friends and my coworkers. I have decided that I make a difference and perhaps to others I make one as well. HOPE what a beautiful thought!
Thanks for sharing this, You have lifted my day even more!
Love, Sherrie TAH 5/17/00
Sheadiv922@aol.com

"I WOULDN'T HAVE CHANGED MY MIND FOR THE WORLD!"

Thank you!! That was so nice to read and much needed today!! Hugs to you!

thank you marie that was very nice. your such a sweetie lady. take care warm and gentle hugs to you