Hope is Bubbling in My Heart

One of the greatest treasures I own is an assemblage of milk glass china. Some of it belonged to Mike's grandmother, some my mother in law gave me out of her personal collection, still other pieces I've picked up at garage sales along the way. All have the grape leaf pattern. I have enough plates, glasses, salad plates, and dessert bowls to feed 16 at a time.

I love using the vintage tableware when we have company for dinner. Despite our humble surroundings, it just seems to add a touch of elegance to the dining-room.

Recently, my friend Tonya and her mom, Susan joined my daughters and I for supper. After munching chicken salad on Croissants from my china, we sat around the table for girl talk, French Vanilla coffee, and of course, Dove's Dark Chocolate! There was just something special about sipping the aromatic coffee from the dainty milk glass cups and saucers.

This morning, I struggled to wake up to get ready for work and school. My husband was traveling, therefore I didn't sleep well. I knew that I had to have caffeine in order to get going. I also knew that those tiny tea cups....weren't going to do the job. Instead I reached for an oversized ceramic mug and filled it all the way to the top.

When the weariness of life affects my physical life, it's so easy to grab that 20 minute afternoon power nap. A banana and a granola bar will quickly raise my energy level. Most days, I simply reach for the mega-sized coffee cup.

But when the weariness affects my spiritual life, I still need that extra jolt of something to pull me out of my despair. It is then that I must remember the words that Paul wrote to the church at Rome: (Romans 15:13). And I absolutely love the Amplified Translation of this verse!

13May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.

If I allowed God to fill me with this kind of hope every day, can you just imagine how different my life would be?