When the chips are down, no one is reading your stories, your bank account cries for money, claps, and likes are few and far between, you feel down, or you receive horrible news from the doctor, you need some hope!

All of us have those days.

And that statement just helps nobody! You need some hope! If all of us have some of those days how do only some get through it?

Hope is not an empty word. It has some gravity

While I was chatting to a friend, he went straight to the point and asked. “I remember you also have a heart issue?”

I briefly told my story but not in detail, because I knew that there was some “heart questions “ coming on.

Heart stories are very interesting.

Sometimes you must deal with your physical heart. If the doctor says what’s wrong with your heart, you live with it every day, it’s difficult to change.

But what about your spirit and soul. If we say someone has a strong and courageous heart. Are we talking about their spirit and soul? Or may it also be that we are talking about their hearts and the hope that’s in their hearts?

I don’t want to lose you here, talking all fluffy airy-fairy stuff. But just take note of this.

One of the reasons surgeons were hesitant, long ago, to operate on the heart or transplant the heart is because of this heart-soul-spirit connection.

The heart has a “brain” with 40 000 neurons and can sense, feel, learn and remember. Your heart talks to your brain.

Dr. Paul Pearsall and Dr. Deborah Rozman have talked and wrote about this and how the heart communicates with the brain.

But maybe your heart cannot really think, but I believe it can feel.

What is the symbol for love?……

Why is it a heart?

Faith Hope and love are mentioned in the same sentence in the Bible. They are all these types of “fluffy” difficult to explain concepts. Can it be that hope to some extent is situated in your heart?

A few times I, and many other people have hoped in spite of hopelessness.

There was no clear solution, no guarantee, no escape or hope.

But there was HOPE.

So my friend explained that he had an issue with one of his heart valves’ and the doctor said that he would not be able to cycle as hard and competitive as he used to. Also that surgery to repair or replace that valve was not out of the question. It was a SHOCK! How would he deal with this news?

He was training for a race, what now? How do you grab hold of HOPE? And then he went and watched YouTube videos of heart surgery! If that does not scare you what will?

But he had hope.

What’s the definition of hope? “a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen”

So here are a few thoughts to get that feeling of hope into your heart.

1. You are still breathing

It means you are still in with a chance! Do not underestimate the fact that you are still living, breathing, walking, talking, thinking. Thinking too far ahead and anticipating everything that could go wrong is like dressing for rain that’s forecast for tomorrow -what’s the use of that?

We’re not talking about planning for what may come, but rather not accepting tomorrow, next year’s problems now. Dealing with those future problems must be like paying big bills -only when they are really truly due.

Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison, but he was still breathing. He still had a chance. He had hope. Then he became president of South Africa.

2. Some people are worse off

Ever heard of Nick Vujicic?

He was born without arms or legs in 1982. His early days were difficult according to his website. It was not just the physical stuff to deal with but also the depression and loneliness. He questioned why he was different, what was the purpose of life, did he have a future?

By now he has traveled to 69 countries, is married with 4 children, best selling author, has a Bachelor’s degree, has given speeches to millions of people and get this……..He swims! One of his quotes “If God can use a man without arms and legs to be His hands and feet, then He will certainly use any willing heart!”

So he asks. What’s your excuse?

And what about Bethany Hamilton, the surfer girl who still went on with her life after a shark bit off her left arm. What about our excuses? There is always someone worse off than you, but still making a difference.

3. Medical Breakthroughs

It happens all the time!

I live in heart transplant territory.

Physically and spiritually. Physically it was first done by Professor Chris Barnard in December 1967 at Groote Schuur in South Africa. Spiritually by God, mentioned in Ezekiel 36:26

“It always seems impossible until it is done” — Nelson Mandela.

Just to mention some of the breakthroughs:

Smart-Phone monitor that can give an ECG and then possibly predict from the ECG if the patient has too much or little potassium in their blood. Possibly inform your doctor about your ECG and what to do.

Surgical Slug Superglue is strong, non-toxic, flexible and able to stick to wet surfaces.

Deep brain stimulation for stroke patients to help them regain more motor function and improve brain plasticity.

Anti-inflammatory cardiac care that could reduce heart attack or stroke by 15%. Not to mention voice analysis that can detect if you have heart disease! And contact lenses that help to find out what’s wrong with you — WHAT!

Still developing some of these breakthroughs, but there is HOPE!

4. You can control your attitude

Who controls your attitude?

Think about it………. Program, Manage, Create, Build and work on your attitude!

Be aware of your attitude. Smile (it releases endorphins) Be grateful, start with anything!

I have eaten today, I have internet, I can see, I can hear, I have fingers, I’ve overcome many setbacks and obstacles during my life!, I’m breathing. Take a moment now, and take a deep long breath.

You feel it? It has a relaxing effect.

Is attitude not in essence FOCUS? The old story of the half-full but also half-empty glass. It depends on what you FOCUS on!

5. Put up monuments

The Eiffel tower was constructed to commemorate the centennial of the French Revolution and to demonstrate France’s industrial prowess to the world.

Why not “create” some things in your own life to commemorate all the struggles that you came through? Something to give you hope!!

What is a monument?

“a statue, building, or other structure erected to commemorate a notable person or event.”

So I’m not talking about building a statue, or you can if you have a big enough garden, but rather creating something on paper. Creating some small “statues” on paper. Something to remind you that you have gone through some things AND SURVIVED!

Build your own small VICTORYVAULT, put all your victories in a diary or on a list somewhere. Go back to them when you need hope!

I get my hope from all the promises in the Bible and a savior that died for me.

Leave a comment. Why?…. because you can!

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