Zeke and Ginny talk about Hope and Gratitude!
At the parish picnic, Zeke and his wife Ginny were having a drink, he a beer and she a white wine. As usual, their conversation drifted into deeper waters. Today their topic focused on gratitude and hope. Zeke turned to Ginny asking: “Ginny, do you have more gratitude now that we’re getting up in age?” Continuing, Zeke said, “I think gratitude is the pleasure experienced when our hope is fulfilled with each passing day.” Ginny answered, “Yes, but hope is also the pain we feel when gratitude is delayed?” “How’s that?” replied Zeke. “Well, if I know a gift is coming on my birthday or for Christmas, the expectation of receiving that gift causes my gratitude to surface more readily,” answered Ginny.
Ginny then added saying, “Christmas is the holiday that easily tests hope and gratitude. We know we are going to receive gifts from family members and friends.” She paused smiling, “When that expected moment happens the delight in the room is contagious. Everyone feels the joy that gratitude radiates.”
On a roll, Ginny added, “But hope gets a little shaky when doubts tell us that what we hoped for is not going to happen for one reason another.” Zeke said, “I can understand that. If I am passionately waiting for something and it takes too long to come,” Taking a sip of beer, Zeke finished, “I can become as fidgety as a farmer waiting for a rainstorm after a long summer drought.”
Ginny said, “Zeke, any hope is better than no hope, no matter how thin that hope gets.” “I agree,” replied Zeke. “To lose all hope is to die on the inside, while on the outside we wander lifelessly.” “Absolutely my point,” answered Ginny, “Having hope is one hundred percent better than no hope at all.” Both drank to that.
Zeke and Ginny make good points about hope and gratitude. However, living in hope can get terribly tiresome. Is this because God is testing our patience? Not really. God doesn’t play games with those He loves. Although we do know that God also writes straight with crooked lines.
Patience flows from the natural rhythm of our lives. Growth takes time. Pregnancies take time. Crops grow over a season and flowers bloom eventually. They all have a particular rhythm. None of the above can be hurried, no matter how impatient we become. But that’s our choice, not God’s.
What we can always count on is living hope which St. Peter mentions in first Peter 3. It reminds us that Jesus rose from the dead. Since He did, we all have the living hope to rise as Jesus did. We all are blessed with this same legacy.
Zeke and Ginny’s understanding of hope gives us much to think about as we travel our pathways. And it does take patience. Why? To understand the astonishing things God has prepared for us while we wait. What the Lord loves is our taking the time to realize all He has prepared for our salvation. Yet, it is His loving task which our God always delights doing!
Painting Christmas Present, Karen Ahuja painter
