Hope is a very powerful thing. In fact, I’m not sure there are many things that can trump it. I have read stories from those that suffered great atrocities at the hands of captors in POW or concentration camps and the reason one person made it and another succumbed was a matter of hope. Hope that tomorrow would be better; that there was something at the end of the rainbow, that all the pain and suffering was somehow worth it.

I wake up every day in pain. I had a football injury in high school that resulted in having to have 9 levels of my spine fused and 8 ribs reattached all together with 7lbs of rods, screws, bolts and other miscellaneous hardware. It was a 17 hour surgery, with two teams of world class surgeons.  I had very little doubt I would live, but whether the rest of my days would be spent in a wheelchair was a serious consideration.  I think back to the recovery, the week in intensive care, the countless hours of therapy and remember the driving force getting through it was hope.  Hope that each day would get progressively better. 

Hope, Faith and Love.  There is quite a bit floating out there on the latter two, but without the former, faith and love fall flat.  One of my favorite songs at the moment is Dream Big by Ryan Shupe.  Despite its title, it is a song more about hope than dreams (well, to be technical having dreams are a function of hope).  At any rate I hope it gives you a boost to your day -

Dream Big
Ryan Shupe & The Rubberband

 When you cry be sure to dry your eyes,
cause better days are sure to come.
And when you smile be sure to smile wide,
and don’t let them know that they have won.
And when you walk, walk with pride,
and don’t show the hurt inside,
because the pain will soon be gone.

Chorus:
And when you dream, dream big,
As big as the ocean blue.
Cause when you dream it might come true.
So When you dream, dream big.

And when you laugh be sure to laugh out loud,
cause it will carry all your cares away.
And when you see, see the beauty
all around and in yourself, it will help you feel okay.
And when you pray, pray for strength
to help to carry on when the troubles come your way.

Chorus

And when you laugh be sure to laugh out loud,
’cause it will carry all your cares away.
And when you see, see the beauty all
around and in yourself, and it will help you feel okay.
And when you pray, pray for strength to
help to carry on when the troubles come your way.