Renewed Hope
by Lily Blackston
You sit on your bed, immersed in a world of virtual media. The headline has been the same for three weeks now “Virus Sweeps the World”. You sigh heavily and turn your attention to something one of your friends posted. It was a picture of a cat lying lazily on the beach. Underneath the text stated, Virus? What virus? It was supposed to be funny, but you didn’t think so. The virus had torn your family apart, it was destroying countries, and no one knew how to handle it.
You heard a knock on the door. You pulled yourself out of the internet and back into reality. It wasn’t normal for someone to go knocking on doors, it was too dangerous with the virus everywhere. You went to go answer the door anyway and were surprised to find a girl selling cookies.
“Hello Ma’am,” she greeted, “Would you like to buy some cookies? It’s only three dollars a box.”
You stare at her in astonishment. That was a ridiculously low price, how could anyone give up a deal like that?
“Sure, I’ll buy a box,” you reply.
The girl handed you a container of sugar cookies, stating, “All profits go to an orphanage in South America. You know, to help with the virus.”
“Really?” you ask with a small smile, “How about I buy two boxes then?”
The girl smiled back and handed you another box. “Thank you!”
“You’re welcome,” you answered.
Someone called to the girl from across the street. The girl nodded at them.
“I have to go. Goodbye!” the girl said.
“Goodbye,” you reply. You close the door and glance at the boxes of cookies in your hands. A bible verse was written on them. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10.” you read aloud. You read the words again. You felt relief, maybe the virus wouldn’t destroy everything. Maybe there was something bigger than all the fear and doubt in the world. The sense of hope flooded you, and for the first time in a few weeks, you had a real, genuine smile.
You made your way into the living room, where you collapsed onto the couch and ripped open a box of cookies. You turned on the TV and immediately regretted doing so. The News Channel was on: apparently, the virus had affected thousands more people today. “As the virus continues to sweep the nation, millions are being affected. The hospitals are full of the infected, and the future is looking bleaker by the day…”
You turn the TV off again, feeling just as depressed as you did this morning. You nibble anxiously on a cookie. Where had that feeling of peace gone? What distant land did that shimmer of hope vanish to? You took another bite of the cookie, looking back to the Bible verse on the cardboard. The feeling it first gave you diminished, but maybe there was more to be found?
You trudged back to your office and turned on the computer. Being careful not to look at any news articles, you search “bible verses”. Many pop up, but the one that catches your eye is Joshua 1:9. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” you read. The wonderful feeling of strength overpowered you again, and this time you were determined not to lose it. You wanted to share this amazing emotion with everyone. But how? You ask yourself.
The girl was sharing kindness by selling cookies and giving the money to the sick, and others were finding their own ways of spreading love.
You open up your Facebook account and post one of the Bible verses. Under it, you write, Out of all the bad, something good will come. Share a Bible verse with at least three of your friends today. Always remember to encourage one another and build each other up.
After that, you shut off your computer and pull a few pieces of paper from under your desk. It was time to get to work.
A few hours later, you had created several encouraging notes and placed them in some of your neighbor’s mailboxes. Finally, you drive to your friend’s house and leave the second box of cookies on their doorstep. As you drive back to your house, you think about what other things you can do to show God’s love.
A message appears on your phone. You check your phone and are surprised to find already over a hundred likes on your earlier post. A new sense fills you. The feeling of encouragement, by encouraging others. You feel joyful that others are experiencing joy. You feel renewed hope, and that’s the best feeling of all.
You sit on your bed, immersed in a world of virtual media. The headline has been the same for three weeks now “Virus Sweeps the World”. You sigh heavily and turn your attention to something one of your friends posted. It was a picture of a cat lying lazily on the beach. Underneath the text stated, Virus? What virus? It was supposed to be funny, but you didn’t think so. The virus had torn your family apart, it was destroying countries, and no one knew how to handle it.
You heard a knock on the door. You pulled yourself out of the internet and back into reality. It wasn’t normal for someone to go knocking on doors, it was too dangerous with the virus everywhere. You went to go answer the door anyway and were surprised to find a girl selling cookies.
“Hello Ma’am,” she greeted, “Would you like to buy some cookies? It’s only three dollars a box.”
You stare at her in astonishment. That was a ridiculously low price, how could anyone give up a deal like that?
“Sure, I’ll buy a box,” you reply.
The girl handed you a container of sugar cookies, stating, “All profits go to an orphanage in South America. You know, to help with the virus.”
“Really?” you ask with a small smile, “How about I buy two boxes then?”
The girl smiled back and handed you another box. “Thank you!”
“You’re welcome,” you answered.
Someone called to the girl from across the street. The girl nodded at them.
“I have to go. Goodbye!” the girl said.
“Goodbye,” you reply. You close the door and glance at the boxes of cookies in your hands. A bible verse was written on them. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10.” you read aloud. You read the words again. You felt relief, maybe the virus wouldn’t destroy everything. Maybe there was something bigger than all the fear and doubt in the world. The sense of hope flooded you, and for the first time in a few weeks, you had a real, genuine smile.
You made your way into the living room, where you collapsed onto the couch and ripped open a box of cookies. You turned on the TV and immediately regretted doing so. The News Channel was on: apparently, the virus had affected thousands more people today. “As the virus continues to sweep the nation, millions are being affected. The hospitals are full of the infected, and the future is looking bleaker by the day…”
You turn the TV off again, feeling just as depressed as you did this morning. You nibble anxiously on a cookie. Where had that feeling of peace gone? What distant land did that shimmer of hope vanish to? You took another bite of the cookie, looking back to the Bible verse on the cardboard. The feeling it first gave you diminished, but maybe there was more to be found?
You trudged back to your office and turned on the computer. Being careful not to look at any news articles, you search “bible verses”. Many pop up, but the one that catches your eye is Joshua 1:9. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” you read. The wonderful feeling of strength overpowered you again, and this time you were determined not to lose it. You wanted to share this amazing emotion with everyone. But how? You ask yourself.
The girl was sharing kindness by selling cookies and giving the money to the sick, and others were finding their own ways of spreading love.
You open up your Facebook account and post one of the Bible verses. Under it, you write, Out of all the bad, something good will come. Share a Bible verse with at least three of your friends today. Always remember to encourage one another and build each other up.
After that, you shut off your computer and pull a few pieces of paper from under your desk. It was time to get to work.
A few hours later, you had created several encouraging notes and placed them in some of your neighbor’s mailboxes. Finally, you drive to your friend’s house and leave the second box of cookies on their doorstep. As you drive back to your house, you think about what other things you can do to show God’s love.
A message appears on your phone. You check your phone and are surprised to find already over a hundred likes on your earlier post. A new sense fills you. The feeling of encouragement, by encouraging others. You feel joyful that others are experiencing joy. You feel renewed hope, and that’s the best feeling of all.
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