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?
This post is part of a Hope relay! Jenn at so this is love wrote a beautiful post called This Little Light of Mine and passed the torch to me a few other bloggers. As we celebrate the Olympics, Melanie Crutchfield had the fabulous idea to pass the torch of “Hope” around the blogging community. The idea being that she has asked some fabulous folks to write about Hope, and then we ask some more fabulous folks to write about Hope and before you know it, Hope is spreading around the blogging community! Melanie is going to compile all of the posts she can at the end of the Olympics and host her own version of the closing ceremonies.
I invite any and all of you to write on the topic of Hope, but I am officially passing the baton of Hope to Cynthia at Withywindle Nature, Michelle at Callia’s Corner, Alysia at Try Defying Gravity.
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[…] 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. -Jennifer at Another Jennifer […]
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[…] 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 […]
This is beautiful! Thank you! I have a lot to think about with hope now…
Thanks, Alysia. I can’t wait to read your post!
Beautiful job Jennifer. I can so relate to the sentiments here.
Thanks, Jen!
So beautifully written. Hope keeps us looking forward.
Thanks you, Jamie! Hope does keep us looking forward.
I LOVE this. Thank you so much. The hope posts are really all over the map, but what I love about yours is that it’s reminding me that so many people need to be GIVEN hope. They need to be reminded that hope exists. The need a little seed of hope, with which to grow a future. A needed reminder. Thanks again.
I’m so happy you enjoyed the post, Melanie. I can’t wait to read all of the posts in the end. What a wonderful idea. Thanks for starting this blog relay!
WOOHOO!. I KNEW you’d be an awesome contributor. And make me a little teary. You are an awesome advocate, thanks for spreading HOPE! 🙂
Aw, thanks Jenn! Yours made me teary as well. I can’t wait to see all the posts at the end. I’m so glad you passed the baton to me. It’s a great project.
Oh no! I missed the main event, however, I’m still going to work on a Hope post and pass the torch to others.
That’s great, Michelle. I was kind of late writing my post, since I was in NYC most of last week. The posts have been beautiful and inspiring. Definitely worth continuing!
Thanks for passing this on to me, Jennifer! I’m looking forward to writing my Hope blog post this week!
Awesome, Cynthia. Melanie posted a “Closing Ceremonies” with links to posts written during the time of the Olympics (trackback is below). They are all so great. I’d love to see it continue.