Monday, July 04, 2005

Hey everybody! I need help!
I've got a friend who is going through a terrible time. Not physical illness but sick at heart. She's facing two rotten options for her future in the next few weeks and I'm aching for her.
We talk often and I'm available for her.

I want to make a Hope Basket for her. I've thought of all the Bible quotes about hope that I find helpful, literary quotes about hope, a sterling sugar spoon to recall the sweetness of life, a packet of seeds to remind her of how things (and people) keep growing. But, I'm stumped for what else.
Help me think of things for the basket, please.

Thanks,
St.Casserole

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi! I'm a reader of reverendmother's blog and have enjoyed visiting your blog, too. I thought of David Wilcox's song "Love Will Show the Way." I can't think of which cd it's on (RM would know, though.) If you can get your hands on it, it's a wonderful, hope-filled song. Blessings to your friend during this hard time.

Anonymous said...

The song is actually called "Show the Way" and it's on the Live Stories and Songs cd. Hope this helps.

Theresa Coleman said...

a heart made of velvet to put in her pocket to remind her of the love you have for her
a bag of "Hugs" and "Kisses"
Anne Morrow Lindbergh's "Gift from the Sea" along with some seashells
a small jar filled with slips of paper to take out one at a time with a word of hope, appreciation or love on each one.
a quarter (or calling card) to tell her to phone anytime, anywhere

Quotes:
Antoine de Saint-Exupery:
If you want to build a ship, don't herd people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.

Reinhold Niebuhr:
Nothing worth doing is completed in our lifetime,
Therefore, we are saved by hope.
Nothing true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history;
Therefore, we are saved by faith.
Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone.
Therefore, we are saved by love.
No virtuous act is quite a virtuous from the standpoint of our friend or foe as from our own;
Therefore, we are saved by the final form of love which is forgiveness.

M. Scott Peck
The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.

Anonymous said...

How about a small book of recipes (I always vote for chocolate)? We can make our own sweetness, if we just methodically put together the ingredients and go through the steps of the recipe, one by one.

Unknown said...

Emily Dickinson
"Hope is the thing with feathers"
I love that poem so much. How about a beautiful feather, perhaps with the poem written out on a pretty piece of paper?
What a sweet friend you are, St. C.

reverendmother said...

"Show the Way" is also on Big Horizon, although the live version cgauntie mentions is better.

David Wilcox has a song for every emotion, including road rage.

I was going to suggest "Hope is the Thing with Feathers" as well--great minds are all thinking alike today!

What a sweet idea.

Princess of Everything (and then some) said...

A candle to light her way. A kite to remember that she will fly high again. A tiny race car to remind her that she will once again go fast when she is not mired down. A pen and paper to record where she is now so that, eventually she will see how far God has brought her.

Kathryn said...

One of my ordination gifts, from a friend who has been through the mill several times herself, was a little metal "pebble" with a dove engraved on one side and "hope" on the other. It's clearly designed to sit in your pocket as a reminder...the packaging says it is copyright Russ Berrie and Co, Oakland, NJ so it might be possible to track it down on your side of the Pond. I'm so thrilled, myself, to get something speaking of hope from one who has so struggled to find it...
My prayers for your friend

natala said...

what a wonderful idea.... i am a fan of dar williams "better things" it's my song of hope when i'm down...
"Here's wishing you the bluest sky
And hoping something better comes tomorrow
Hoping all the verses rhyme,
And the very best of choruses to
Follow all the doubt and sadness
I know that better things are on their way."