A Woman's Hope.

There's a widely circulated story of a woman who generously offered food and accomodations to a certain reputable Man of Insight.  To repay her, the Man of Insight's servant was asked to find out an area of her need.  When it was disclosed that she was barren, the Man of Insight declared that within a year she would give birth to a child.  In response, the woman replied, 'do not lie to your servant,' indicating what I believe was her want to hope, but also her fear of  potential hurt and disappointment.

I believe women have a particular affinity for hope different from men.  Women can hope with little, even when evidence points to the contrary.  It's a hope that is persistant, stubborn even.  Hope shares an intricate connectedness with a woman's heart such that what we hope is no light matter. 

Sometimes women whose hope is carefully calculated can still end up on the far end of hoping too much and being disappointed.  It's true that 'hope deferred makes the heart grow sick but a desired fulfilled is a tree of life.'  

Disappointment is part of the human experience.  I've certainly tasted enough of its bitterness.  I've hung onto my share of unfulfilled hopes.  I've questioned my ability to hope again.  But I have never completely thrown it away.  Because somehow in the disappointment what is revealed is a Hope far more promising than before.