Spent the day with my dearest friend and we laughed the day away and tea partied with DQ Blizzards. Every time I visit I see new treasures in her eclectic collections and she always places a few in my hands when I leave. I love her!

Had a beautiful hour’s drive over to her home, azure blue sky, white fluffy clouds gathered with myriads of gray clouds, all colors and shapes floating across the horizon. When I was leaving Roanoke there was a school of purple dolphin shaped clouds leaping through the blue waters of the sky. I love to watch the cloud formations.

As I was traveling down the highway I heard the song You’ll Never Walk Alone on the radio. I love the lyrics and the thought that God is always walking and riding with us on our journeys. The song tells us to keep walking through the storms of life with our heads held high and “at the end of the storm is a golden sky.” That golden sky is hope, a four letter word that is such a vital part of Christian faith.

Hope doesn’t serve as a wishing well. It’s a belief that with faith in God all things are possible. Jesus said in Mark 9:23, “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Hope helps us to believe in the impossible and helps us see the positive when life challenges us. We can hope that the storms of life don’t come but if the storms do blow in and disrupt our lives, we can find hope in the promise of God’s rainbow. Everyone suffers but we hold on to God’s hope and pray to him for comfort. As the song says, as long as you walk on, with hope in your heart, you’ll never walk alone. Hope can be a beacon of light in the darkest of storms.

My grandchildren started back to school today. I read the best gifts we can give our children as they head back to school are our prayers. I’ve read lots of school prayers today and picked out this one as my favorite. Let’s add the world’s school children to our prayer list each night and pray for their teachers as they guide the minds of our children. Please read this prayer with a hopeful heart for a happy and safe school year for our children and grandchildren and their teachers.

Dear Lord, As our students begin a new school year, I pray that you will keep them in your care. Send your Spirit to open their minds to all that is true and beautiful and good. Help them to see the gifts and talents you have given them and to use them well. Help them to grow in knowledge and wisdom. Help them to be kind to others and lead others to be kind to them. Give their teachers patience and understanding and help them teach what is just and true. Send your angels to guide and guard our children and to keep them from all harm. Open their young hearts to your presence and enfold them in your peace and protection. Hold them in the palm of your hand and bring them home safely at day’s end. Amen. — Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg/Courageously Living the Gospel

“Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child and one teacher can change the world.” — Malala Yousafzai