“But it seemed to me that this was the way we all lived: full to the brim with gratitude and joy one day, wrecked on the rocks the next. Finding the balance between the two was the art and the salvation.” — Elizabeth Berg

Life is unpredictable. It can be fickle, it can seem empty, it can feel full. No two days are the same. This life is temporal, and we’re passing through. I like the above quote, touching on both joy and trial. Because in this world are both, and we can’t live believing otherwise.

Enter the hope of Christ. In the gratitude and in the rocks, whether we feel it or not, there is hope to be had. And we can have it TODAY.

10 things that help me hope today:

1. The special love of my husband, when I’m perky or when I’m down.

2. Stomach hurting laughter at silly things

3. Driving into the sunrise to get to work

4. A boss who genuinely wishes you better when you feel sick

5. Being asked to draw for a project at work

6. A touching handwritten response from a wise elderly mentor

7. New, lovely friendships blooming

8. Brainstorming gifts to give family for birthdays

9. Sprinkling extra cinnamon on already apple cinnamon-y muffins

10. Throwback tunes via Pandora to perk up any mood

{see List of Ten #1 here}