When I was young, I came across a story that left a permanent imprint on my mind. It was about a man who announced to his two grandchildren that he won in the sweepstakes. Both were freshmen at a university, so the grandfather declared that whosoever shall finish college with honors would get the prize money, the certificate of which was kept in a bank’s safety deposit box. Keeping the grand reward in mind, the cousins became competitive, studied hard, and got very good grades. Both were to graduate with honors so they proudly invited their grandpa to attend the graduation ceremony. The event was doubly exciting for the two because aside from achieving the highest honors, they would be splitting the prize money. Unfortunately, a week before their graduation, their grandfather fell ill. On the day of the graduation, he passed away. Later, when the family opened the old man’s safety deposit box, they found his will and a letter addressed to the two. It read: Enclosed is the winning sweepstakes ticket. It only won the consolation prize of a few hundred pesos, but look at what it got you. A future bright and secure because now you have the power of knowledge – a true treasure no one can ever take away from you. Although a bit disappointed, the two couldn’t help but smile and be grateful for the wisdom of their grandfather and the miracle of hope he gifted them.
Norman Cousins declares, "The capacity for hope is the most significant fact of life. It provides human beings with a sense of destination and the energy to get started."
Samuel Smiles proclaims, "Hope is the companion of power, and mother of success; for who so hopes strongly has within him the gift of miracles."
Martin Luther King Jr. remarks, "If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all."
When life loses its luster and meaning, we must look at our dreams and wishes instead of dwelling on our problems and failures. We should bring back hope into our hearts and minds, and allow it to weave its magic into our lives.
As Mother Teresa advises, "To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it."
Yes, even if we have to fantasize a little and invent something fictitious to hope for.
The father died of hunger, but the children survived until some people came to rescue them. Although they were weaker than their father, the children lived because of their belief that they had food. Their father died because he had lost hope.
In this trouble-laden world, it is very easy to get discouraged. When faced with problems and difficulties, we tend to lose hope and give up. Without something to hope for, life loses its meaning. Hope could be the magical ingredient to strengthen your courage and power your heart. There is an ancient Roman saying that goes, "While there’s life, there’s hope." The reverse is true, too – "While there is hope, there is life!"