Heart Hope by Olga

Whenever I pay my granddaughter, Molly, a compliment seven year old Will retorts back with “What about me?” Now Will might not have been doing anything except watching TV or playing a video game, but he always want to be included when compliments are being distributed. He likes to be the best and he likes to get attention—all kinds of it. He is the oldest and was the first grandchild on both sides, so perhaps he is used to being the smartest, the cutest and the best (you know all of the things that parents and grandparents think about the firstborn). It’s kind of amusing when a child says something like that, but it’s not only kids who do it. My 87 year old mother said the exact same words last summer when I commented on how beautiful and flawless my sister’s legs looked. Do you find something comical in that situation? However, it’s a good example of how we as adults continue comparing ourselves to others throughout life. We may change the strategies about how we do...

I caught a glimpse out of the corner of my eye as I entered Subway to grab a quick bite to eat. A tiny little child with his misshapen, shaved-bald head with a v- shaped scar going through the center of his scull. I didn't want to look; it was too painful to see the little child who had apparently been through so much in his short life. It's not what God had intended. God didn't want this child to suffer. No, He wanted this child to be pain free, disease free, but this cruel fallen world had other plans for that little one. I sat just wanting a little quiet time, but couldn't help but glance at the table in front of me where the child sat. The doting dad and chattering child led me to the conclusion that the child was much older than his small frame indicated. And then it happened...the child turned all the way around in his chair to face me. How should I respond to the heart-breaking sight? And then I realized that the child was not bothered at all by w...

Lord I am discouraged, I prayed. Give me encouragement, I asked. Send me something to lift my spirits to show me that You have a plan for my life, I begged. I was expecting an email or my phone to ring; instead something else transpired. It was as if God said to me, “Did you miss all of the encouragement I sprinkled throughout your day?” and then as I reflected back I saw numerous words that had been expressed and happenings that God had sent to encourage me in advance of my prayer. A co- worker and friend had told me that I was her angel and that I made her a better person. A girl that I mentor had brought me Christmas goodies and thanked me for investing in her life. And when someone asked if we were sisters we both said yes. (with only about 30 years difference) My dear friend had sent a text that God has something spectacular planned for me. My daughter had called just to say that she loves me and cares about me. My boss had shared excitement about a project ...

Luis Benitez is an amazing man. He has climbed Everest 6 times and helped guide the first blind man to the top. I had the privilege of hearing him speak about his adventures because he now works for Vail Resorts, helping people reach their potential. Although not one thing in his talk was about God or faith, I believe there are some things that can still apply. Throughout his presentation, Luis asked a series of questions that we should ask when striving to reach our goals: What adversities do you have to overcome in order to reach your dream? Luis had asthma so bad as a child that he was constantly in and out of the hospital. God allows each of us to experience difficulties in our lives, which make us stronger, more determined and better if we let it. How bad do you want it? It takes determination and drive to reach difficult places, so you have to want to reach your potential. As Christians we must desire God’s will for our life or things will just happen and we wi...

Making memories was my goal. I didn’t really want the Christmas cookies for myself, but I thought it might be a fun project for me to do with my grandchildren. Homemade sugar cookies cut into shapes matching the characters seen at Jesus’ birth.  The dough was measured and mixed…it was rolled and cut…flour was everywhere probably because the kids would dip their hands into the flour and then clap them right in my face. Yes, it was going to be a memory…at least for me. Each child had gotten to select which characters or animals they wanted to make and were given lessons on how to position the cutters on the rolled dough in order to get the most cookies out of it. They wanted to eat the cookie dough and since I didn’t die as a child from eating it I let them do it; after all we were making memories. Once the cookies were baked and cooled it was time to decorate them. The picture on the cover of the cutters had beautifully embellished cookies, just the way I wa...