A Good Dose of Hope

While the snow was falling tonight, I was busy feeding and watering the sheep as Hank was goofing off outside with his ball. When I came out, I couldn't find him. Finally I saw a round bump in the snow and recognized Hank's soccer ball. Ha! Hank is never far from his ball. Sure enough he was the other lump in the snow, a little further off. It reminded me of a snowstorm many years ago when we lived in Newfoundland. It snowed heavy and harsh Atlantic winds blew all day and evening, during which time, about 10 dogs of similar shapes and sizes were camped out in our neighbour's yard. We called them "crackies". There was one at every house along the street and they all looked the same. Apparently word had gotten out on the street that the princess who lived there was in heat. And so they persevered throughout the day and evening. Come dark, we turned away from the window and thought they would do the same. With the coming of morning the storm had moved out to sea leaving a deep blanket of snow on everything. As I looked out the window towards our neighbours, not a dog was in sight. Sensible I thought...no wait! What was that lump in the snow drift. Very slowly, the lump emerged into a tail wagging faithful suitor.I marvelled at his stamina and decided he deserved the prize because he never lost hope.What happened to the other nine?

We would all do well with a good dose of that hope because really... sometimes that's all there is.