Ray of Hope

"Over the past year, I've come to love butterflies and rainbows.  After all, without change, there'd be no butterflies.  And without a storm, there'd be no rainbows.  I especially like this rainbow I saw this morning while running.  I had to stop, get my phone untangled, and take a picture.  It was just a ray, I couldn't see any other part of it.  Just this ray.  So whatever your 'storm' is - if some days seem too dark, too hard… My prayer for you is that you'll always be able to find a ray of hope, even if it is small.  Happy Monday, friends."
-Amy, my long-time friend and neighbor.  

This was Amy's Facebook post this morning, and personally, it helped me get ready to face the day.  I had a rough morning and seeing her post while lying in bed gave me the strength to find my ray of hope and get ready to face the day.  Monday mornings can be so hard sometimes.  But that was a perfect reminder for me (and you) to find that ray of hope.

We've all been there.  We think things can't possibly get any worse than they are… but then they do.  The streak of bad-luck seems never-ending.  If it's not one thing, it's another.  When it rains, it pours.

But we know there is light at the end of the tunnel.  We know there is a ray of hope waiting for us.  We know, because we've been here before.  We've been here before, and we've survived.  We will survive this time and we will survive next time and we will survive the time after that.  Because that is what we do.  You are resilient.  You are strong.  You are brave.

Today's Starfish

Everyone goes through hard times.  No one is immune to rough days.  Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you may know nothing about.  A friend of Devon and mine has gone through her share of trials and tribulations recently.  The wedding dress she picked out turned out to not lay right (even after she sent it back to get fixed) so she has to pick out a new one.  Did I mention her wedding is in three months?!  Oh, and her honeymoon got cancelled.  So they have to plan a new one!  And on top of all this plus the normal stresses of having a wedding, she is having some health issues.  Did I mention her wedding is in three months?!

We wanted to let her know we were thinking about her, so we collected some inspiring and uplifting quotes and thoughts, got some of her favorite candies and a few other things to make her smile and put together a little care package to lift her spirits.  

Our challenge to you - Be aware.  Be aware of the people around you and be sensitive to situations you may know nothing about.  A warm smile or quick hello may be just what they need to make it through the day.  Be someone's ray of hope.