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The Gift of Hope

jennifer · February 17, 2014 · 32 Comments

The following post was originally published on August 9, 2012. It was part of a blog relay in honor of the 2012 Summer Olympics. The idea was to write about and spread the idea of Hope. It’s a post I enjoyed writing, and I thought it was appropriate, being in the middle of the 2014 Winter Olympics.
hope

hope (noun): the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best

A few years ago, I remember asking a co-worker about her progress on the solicitation of donations for the nonprofit where we worked. She was looking for donations of gifts for female residents of a short-term residential substance abuse treatment program. A 28-day program where women typically leave with as many days of sobriety as their stay.
Some of these women were in treatment with their children, and it was only because the program allowed them to stay with their children that they were in treatment at all.
Presents on Christmas morning were the least of these women’s worries. But, who wants to wake up in a place that’s not home on Christmas morning and not get at least one present?
My co-worker responded to my inquiry with “I asked and sent a hope and a prayer along with it.”
My response was “We shouldn’t have to send a hope and a prayer. People should just give.”
That’s easier said than done, of course. My perspective was that these women deserved to have a gift for themselves and their children on Christmas morning. Treatment isn’t easy, especially in a residential rehab setting. Contrary to some beliefs, there isn’t a magic wand in rehab that suddenly turns your life around. Plus, who wants to be in a treatment facility during the holidays?
Presents didn’t have to be big. Just enough to show the female clients that they are worthy of a gift. That they have hope for a healthy future. Or any future at all. As surprising as it may seem, some had never been given the gift of hope.
My co-worker knew from experience that people didn’t always see it the same way. It’s hard to give to a person who may have hurt more than they have helped in the past.
In the end, as it happens every year, every resident received a gift on Christmas morning and so did the children (even some that weren’t living at the facility). Kind people, churches and organizations donated things that the women and their children could use when they left treatment – clothes, AA books, a special stuffed animal that would stay with them forever and be a symbol of their new lives.
Everyone deserves a second chance, if you ask me. And, yes, sometimes it takes a few chances.

But, without hope, where would we be?

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Life hope, Olympics, treatment

Comments

  1. Alexa says

    February 17, 2014 at 6:25 am

    I, for one, know how powerful the gift of hope can be. I’m glad you reposted this, because I missed it first go round!

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      February 17, 2014 at 8:54 am

      I have no doubt you do, Alexa. Glad you enjoyed the post. It’s one worth digging up, I think!

      Reply
  2. Chris Carter says

    February 17, 2014 at 6:56 am

    I don’t know if I ever saw this one, Jennifer! Oh my… what an incredibly powerful story here and i am SO glad that people came through for the children and women who needed gifts to open come Christmas Morning..
    Hope- ah hope. I think that is the hardest word to come by and the most treasured gift to hold.

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      February 17, 2014 at 8:57 am

      It’s sad that people don’t think they even deserve hope, isn’t it? It is most definitely one of the best gifts one can receive.

      Reply
  3. Janine Huldie says

    February 17, 2014 at 7:32 am

    You are right we all do deserve hope and a second chance. Seriously, just couldn’t agree more with you on this, Jennifer and thank you for re-sharing because I didn’t get to read this on your blog the first time out.

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      February 17, 2014 at 8:58 am

      My pleasure, Janine. It’s one of my favorites!

      Reply
  4. Katie @ Pick Any Two says

    February 17, 2014 at 8:33 am

    I work with a domestic violence shelter, and we always say that in addition to physical safety and security, our goal is to instill our clients with hope – hope that they can live violence-free lives, hope that they can become self-sufficient and not reliant on their abuser, hope for a better future. Because you’re right, where would ANY of us be without hope?

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      February 17, 2014 at 9:00 am

      Many of these women have a history of trauma and/or abuse. Without hope, they couldn’t move forward. Thank you for the work you do, Katie!

      Reply
  5. thedoseofreality says

    February 17, 2014 at 8:48 am

    LOVE this post so much. Without hope, where would we be? Lost for sure I imagine. You are truly an inspiration…and everyone does deserve a 2nd chance…and actually all the chances.-Ashley

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      February 17, 2014 at 9:01 am

      I agree, Ashley! Who are we to deny anyone hope?

      Reply
  6. Michelle says

    February 17, 2014 at 10:51 am

    Everyone does deserve a second chance. Otherwise where is the hope in humanity? Thank you for sharing this again!

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      February 17, 2014 at 11:46 am

      Happy to, Michelle!

      Reply
  7. Stephanie @ Hugs, Kisses and Snot says

    February 17, 2014 at 11:46 am

    I love this post. Hope is essential when your in a desperate situation. Hope is knowing that tomorrow can be a little bit better when today was crap. Those Christmas gifts gave those women hope that they can be worthy of someone’s love, even if it’s a little gift from a stranger. And when a little seed of hope is planted, live grows. Bless you!

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      February 17, 2014 at 1:26 pm

      Very well put, Stephanie!

      Reply
  8. Ashlee says

    February 17, 2014 at 2:10 pm

    Probably one of my favorite posts you’ve written. I’m glad you re-posted this!
    It’s hard to give to a person who may have hurt more than they have helped in the past. <– Such a true statement, but this blinds so many people. A person could have committed the harshest of harsh crimes in the past, but if you meet them today, you can only judge them from today. It would be unfair to judge them from their past. Sure, that can influence your opinion or view about them, but don't make it set in stone until you give them a chance. Hope. They probably need it more than you do.

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      February 18, 2014 at 7:13 pm

      Thank you, Ashlee. People change for the better. Hope, I think, helps get them to that better place. We should be careful when we judge.

      Reply
  9. Leah says

    February 17, 2014 at 3:04 pm

    Sometimes hope IS all you can give or all you can do. Hope is what enables some to survive. We need to be spreading more of it.

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      February 18, 2014 at 7:14 pm

      I completely agree, Leah!

      Reply
  10. Tamara says

    February 17, 2014 at 6:44 pm

    What a powerful story. I’m so glad you reposted this because I wasn’t lucky enough to “know” you summer of 2012!

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      February 18, 2014 at 7:15 pm

      I figured a lot of my current readers probably missed it. Glad you enjoyed it, Tamara!

      Reply
  11. Bev says

    February 17, 2014 at 9:01 pm

    What a beautiful, heart-warming post! These women definitely sound like they are deserving of hope. How wonderful that they are able to go to a treatment program where their children are welcome. Thanks for re-sharing!

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      February 18, 2014 at 7:16 pm

      It’s a really great (and innovative) program, Bev. They are still a client of mine. Love working with them. So inspirational.

      Reply
  12. Susannah says

    February 18, 2014 at 6:23 pm

    What a beautiful post! You’re exactly right that we need to be giving hope… This treatment center sounds like it’s such a blessing to the women in it!

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      February 18, 2014 at 7:18 pm

      They save lives and bring families back together. It’s quite amazing. Addiction doesn’t discriminate. Luckily most of the women do find hope.

      Reply
  13. Claire says

    February 19, 2014 at 1:45 am

    I’m so glad I caught this post this time around! I absolutely agree that what a gift symbolises – hope, or simply that someone thought of you – can be so much more than the gift itself. It can be so easy – particularly when battling a disease like addiction – to feel cut off from society, feel as though you’ve blown it in life, that a Christmas gift could mean everything. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      February 19, 2014 at 4:56 pm

      My pleasure, Claire. I think we’ve all had a moment when we’ve just feel down and needed some encouragement. Everyone deserves hope, no matter where they are in life.

      Reply
  14. Cathy Kennedy says

    February 19, 2014 at 8:40 am

    This is an inspiring post filled with hope! It’s nice to read stories of others who are touched in a special way such as these in rehab. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      February 19, 2014 at 4:57 pm

      I’m glad you enjoyed the post, Cathy!

      Reply
  15. Manhattan Image and Style says

    February 20, 2014 at 4:12 pm

    What an inspiring post! Everyone deserves a second chance.
    Diana
    http://www.ManhattanImageandStyle.com
    New Blog Post: How To Look Well-Rested

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      February 20, 2014 at 6:32 pm

      Thanks, Diana. I agree!

      Reply
  16. Ilene says

    February 20, 2014 at 10:05 pm

    Everyone deserves to have a gift on Christmas morning. And I agree that for the women, they needed to know that they were worthy of a gift and a different kind of future. And the children? They needed to know that Santa will find them no matter where they are. That they are worthy of that too. I remember the Hope relay. I’m not sure if we knew each other yet though because I don’t remember reading this!

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      February 22, 2014 at 10:10 pm

      That may have been around the time I was just discovering your blog, Ilene. Michelle Montero passed the baton to me. Did you write one?

      Reply

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