Hoping is Loving.

"When he mentioned the ark of God Eli fell backward off his chair by
the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died." 1Samuel 4:18

Eli had just received news that his two son's were killed and the ark
captured by the Philistines. Eli did not mourn for his son's. This
scares the junk out of me. I have 3 boy's and the thought that my
boy's death would not tear me apart scares me. It scares me because
it happens all the time all around us. People lose hope in their
children, and when they do they lose love.

"When we lose hope, we lose love." When there is hope there is a
reason to love. Hope makes love worthwhile. The dream of what could be draws us to care, to hope, and to love. Without the dream loving becomes only hurt. If I believe any of my son's is doomed, then every thought of them is only pain, failure, hopelessness. Eli stopped
loving because he stopped hoping. I never want to stop hoping. Nor do I have to.

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him." Psalm
62:5