When we named our seven-year-old, Hope, I never thought that sometimes only speaking her name would wear me out. That the word, Hope, would become so common to me that I might even forget what it really means.
She asked me when she was a little girl what her name meant.
I told her,
“Something good’s about to happen.”
Boiled down and simplified, this is what Hope is…the fact that in Faith, we know and trust that something good is always about to happen.
Because of Christ. Of His promises. Of Grace.
At the time I needed something unique. I didn’t want to be like everyone else naming their baby girls iterations of “Hannah” or “Katelyn” or “Madison”. There is nothing wrong with those names, I just (selfishly perhaps) wanted my daughter to stand out from the multitude.
Not Ruth.
Not Charis.
Not Gracie.I was pulling for all of these names at one point or another to name our baby girl who would come early in January of 2002. None seemed right.
I know some parents wait until the baby is born to see which of the hat-full of names fits. They look into her dark blue eyes and search for the name she was meant to have. Sometimes they leave the hospital with “BABY _________________” in the name field.
Not us.
We knew from the 19-week ultrasound what she would be named.
Hope….
Read the rest of “Hope Overused” over at (in)courage. Click here to go!!
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What does HOPE mean to you?
when i was pregnant this last time, before we found out it was a boy, i wanted my little girl to have the middle name of hope! to me is speaks of looking forward to something new, the ‘hope’ of new and good things to come.
we had just gotten through some tough times in our family and ‘hope’ is what got us through!
great post!
Beautiful, Sarah!
Thank you for this. I needed this reminder on this not-off-to-a-great-start morning. Not just a reminder of the hope I have in Christ, but also about how I speak my children’s names… “Peace”, “Pleasure & Delight” and “The man who was unbeatable”. Lately I’m just a tired Mama who says their names in exasperation. I chose their names on purpose, and I need to remember that to say them that way too.
What a beautiful way to describe the meaning of hope! I didn’t realize I needed to meditate on it in this way until I read this. Thank you.
thank you, Sarah. I needed the reminder and encouragement this morning. As for your question; I think of “Hope” as the new sunrise as I drive to work, the dew the on the grass and flowers, the beat before music begins, the sound of my name as a dear friend or family says it…god bless to you and your family.
It means when I am all used up, discouraged, broken, beat up, tore down, disgusted with myself and with others, mean, hateful, horrible, horrified, sad, twisted, manipulated, nasty, worried, terrified, diseased, shameful, shamed, selfish, without peace, guilty, empty – there is He. I always, always, always seem to forget…but somehow He loves me still and has washed over me forgiveness and that is my hope.
LOVE your definition of hope. Having walked through 2 different cancers in the past two years, clinging with my husband to the one who is sovereign even in the midst of pain, fearing for my children (the oldest of which is a January 2002 baby, too), being swallowed by the pit of depression, hope has taken on so many forms. But every single one is my Jesus’! I often think of Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. He knew what was ahead of Him and He accepted His reality. He didn’t ignore it. He didn’t try to escape it. He didn’t run from it. He didn’t gloss over the darkness. He wrestled with it. He cried. He prayed for deliverance. Yet He bowed to God’s will. “Nevertheless, not my will, but thine…” Jesus knew His past, present and His future, and He had hope in His Father. And because of Him, my definition of hope is LIFE eternal, forgiven, whole, healed, perfect.
Love your blog. Love your heart. Love your honesty. I walk away blessed every time I read your words. Thank you.
My ballerina’s middle name is Hope.
I love your definition: Something good’s about to happen.
I want to live in eager expectation of Him.
I think it’s all about perspective- something good really is always going to happen- we just need to look for it in the right place, instead of focusing on the hard things…by focusing on the bad, you become discouraged and unmotivated(often, maybe not always) to make a change.
sarah~
your writing captivates me and draws me in. i admire your honest transparency in all of your blogs and eagerly wait for the next post. i first came here in the midst of your story and was blown away by how God is writing a beautiful story in and through your life. you have inspired me, brought me to tears, made me laugh and drawn me into deeper interactions with our Lord and Savior. thank you. know that i’m praying for you and your family!
oh, and by the way…hope is a beautiful name. it was fun to see my name was in the running too!
charis
“hope” – to me, it means though tomorrow may not be better, i’ll continue to wait for the day following to be. it means that i’m TRUSTING my marriage is going to THRIVE because God is good. it means i’m BELIEVING my children will grow up to trust Christ better than we did because we’re fostering that relationship now.
hope… it’s admitting i have no control in the final destination of anything… but that’s a good thing
Wow, she looks like you in that photo!
My Hope just turned 14. Hard to believe.
When I was pregnat with her I was going to name her Alexandria. I was in a really hard place at the time. I remember the comfort she gave me…feeling her move around in my womb. I remember running my hands over her talking to her as she kicked and punched. I remember say to myself over and over…”No Worries, My Little One, Everybody Needs a Little HOPE.” I realized one day she was my HOPE. Therefore she is Hope Alexandria.
Even with the teenage struggles that have started popping up she is still my Hope!
Hope to me is that flutter you feel when you first kiss somebody, when you first start to feel your small wonder move around in your womb, when you look at your husband of 18 years and start planning for life after the kids are 18. Hope is infused in me by Jesus and he makes me see something Hopeful everyday. When all else fails He brings my Hope into my room and we snuggle.
Isn’t it great to always have Hope!
what does hope mean to me?
it’s something i can’t quite wrap my fingers around, yet i know is there. something i can’t really feel, grasp, cling to… and yet i continuously find myself reaching for. it’s what gets me out of bed these days. it’s what gives me peaceful sleep these nights. hope. it’s a glimpse of what i desire but may never hold in my own arms. and yet… that’s not a defeating thought. it’s a faith-filled, keep-pressing-on thought…