Signs of Spring... Signs of Hope.

This doesn't feel like a very hopeful time in the world...

Families are being torn apart, lives are being turned upside down, and lives are being destroyed. Even on the other side of the world from where the most devastating things are taking place in Ukraine, we still feel the ripple effects. We still see what's happening, and regardless of where we are in the world, many of us feel grief and worry.

I know "this too shall pass" and that there are heroic and kind acts being done that we can focus on if we want to find positive things, but gosh...

Gosh.

I don't have the right words; I don't have answers. All I have is myself. Mother Teresa has a famous quote about love that I love: "Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the action that we do. If you want to bring happiness to the whole world, go home and love your family." It doesn't feel like much, but it's enough.

It's enough to do what I can, where I am, with what I have. It's enough to simply love my family and keep showing up for the people in my life. Love is stronger than hate, and I have hope it will prevail. I have trust in this, and I have trust in the ripple effects love makes. Those ripples are more powerful than the ripples of despair we've been feeling. Those ripples create waves. Those waves can move mountains. 

Yes, this season is temporary. Every season is. As we approach Spring, we find reminders and signs of this. If we search, if we seek, we can still find hope. If we can keep holding onto hope and onto one another, we can help love win. We can, and we must.