It had been a tough week, the kind where resources and energy are running low. I was feeling low. When I looked in the mirror to brush my hair, I noticed the necklace I always wear had come unclasped and the round pendant with the the word, Hope, on it was missing. I thought, Great, now I've lost hope! It was ironic, because I had been losing hope and now it was literally gone. I bought the necklace because a number of years ago I was running short on hope and I needed a touch stone. I got it because I needed hope, not wishful thinking but hope. Hope as I define it is the belief in possibility even when my prayers seem to evaporate as soon as they leave my heart. Hope is tough. It is not delusional. Hope doesn't say, I'd be happy if. Hope believes that in the darkest shadows there may be glimmers of light, no matter how faint that light may be.

This morning when I was plugging in my phone I found one blue bear ear that my dog had chewed off a toy. Just inches away from that blue ear was a faint glimmer embedded in the carpet. I reach down and pulled it out. It was my pendant! I had found hope, again.