The ampersand of life

The ampersand. That's the official name for the "&" sign. Did you know that?

And a couple of years ago, I received this lovely ampersand paperweight as a gift. I was kind of taken back at first. It had never been on my list of "things to get Laurel"...but when I read the card that came with it, it came to the top of that list.

Turns out my dear friend had given me one of the most meaningful gifts I have in my home (whether she meant it to be or not). In her note she said, "You look at life with a constant 'and'. You take what happens and... then you accept what God wants to teach you."

Now, I don't know that that is entirely true, but the mere fact she thought that of me has helped me in that quest. I want to be the "ampersand" person she thinks I am.

And I think I've finally figured out where "the ampersand of life" comes from.

If FAITH is my sentence,
HOPE is my "&".

I have faith in the effect of the sacrament...
and I hope partaking of it will help me be better this week.

I have faith that God hears and answers my prayers...
and I hope I'll be trusting of the outcome.

I struggle with basic gospel principles as much as the next chiquita. At times, faith seems elusive. But, the older I'm getting and the more life I'm living, I'm finally understanding that so much of my faith is sure and that I have more of it than I've given myself credit for.

I'm also understanding that when my faith has weakened, it's usually because my hope has weakened. The two principles are not as different as they are the same. Their connection is key.

Neal A Maxwell taught, "In the geometry of restored theology, HOPE has a greater circumference than FAITH. If FAITH increases, the perimeter of HOPE stretches correspondingly."

It's easier to hope IN something than to hope FOR...have you noticed that?
"The things we hope IN sustain us during our daily walk..." whereas "the things we hope FOR are often future events." (Dieter F. Uchtdorf)

President Uchtdorf goes on to teach, "We hope in Jesus the Christ, in the goodness of God, in the manifestations of the Holy Spirit, in the knowledge that prayers are heard and answered. Because God has been faithful and kept His promises in the past, we can hope with confidence that God will keep His promises to us in the present and in the future."

I more than hope that is true.
I know it is true.

I think I have looked at much of life the last few years with an ampersand. It's kept me grounded and allowed me to grow closer to God and let Him heal my heart. But, my ampersand has been in what I hope IN.

Not what I hope FOR.

And it's time to hope FOR.
He expects me to hope FOR as well.

I have FAITH God keeps His promises...
and I HOPE...

&.
I HOPE.

"For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then so we with patience hope for it.
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth...for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:24-28)