Played porch tag with the porch swings all day. Sat in one swing, too hot with my sweater on. Sat in other swing, too cold without my sweater. I felt like Goldilocks with her bowl of porridge. The day was so pretty, warm sun beaming from a blue sky canvas dotted with fluffy clouds. Had a pair of Eurasian doves visit my yard today, so handsome in their buff brown and gray plumage, black collars around their neck. First time I’ve seen them. Have a little flock of mourning doves that visit most days but these doves are a lot bigger.

I could feel spring in the air today. My yard man came yesterday and groomed my yard, weed eating all the weeds from my flower garden. Be time for flower and vegetable planting soon. Can’t wait for that first tomato sandwich, a pile of fresh cucumbers riding shotgun on the plate.

Oldest brother took my car to his mechanic friend’s garage this morning to get the nail out of the tire. He wasn’t gone long and they didn’t even charge me anything. Pulled the nail out and put in a plug. I love small town living. And I love having brothers who help me when I need them. I read that “home is where the heart is and small towns have big hearts.” That’s certainly true in Roanoke. I feel I’m blessed to be back living in my family’s home in my hometown.

Today’s quote in my daily book of quotes reads, “Hope is like the sun. When it’s behind the clouds, it’s not gone. You just have to find it.” Merriam-Webster defines hope as “to expect with confidence” or “to cherish a desire with anticipation.” Hope is so imbedded in our Christian faith, I don’t think you can have faith without hope or hope without faith. They are intertwined together. Hebrews 6:18 states that “God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.”

Sometimes when the night is so dark all we can do is pray and cling to hope. We pray for God’s Holy Light to light our way out of the darkness. We find hope in our faith of the Lord’s promises that we’ll never walk alone. God will never leave us. Hebrews 13:5 states, “He has said, ‘I will never leave you, nor forsake you.’”

Our faith in the Lord gives us strength to persevere through difficult times. We have hope of better days ahead because we know God is with us, calming our fears and waking our hope. Deuteronomy 31:6 reads, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified…for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

God gave us the gift of faith. Our Christian faith allows us to believe and trust in God, giving us hope in the Lord’s mercy and grace. When you are walking a dark path reach out for the hope in God’s hands. His hope will light your way out of the darkness.

“Faith is unseen but felt, faith is strength when we feel we have none, faith is hope when all seems lost.” — Catherine Pulsifer