Hope In a Window

My Wish

Rascal Flatts

I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow

And each road leads you where you want to go

And if you’re faced with the choice and you have to choose

I hope you choose the one that means the most to you

And if one door opens to another door closed

I hope you keep on walkin’ ‘til you find the window

If it’s cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile

But more than anything, more than anything

My wish for you

Is that this life becomes all that you want it to

Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small

You never need to carry more than you can hold

And while you’re out there gettin’ where you’re gettin’ to

I hope you know somebody loves you

And wants the same things too

Yeah, this is my wish

I hope you never look back but you never forget

All the ones who love you

And the place you left

I hope you always forgive and you never regret

And you help somebody every chance you get

Oh, you find God’s grace in every mistake

And always give more than you take

But more than anything, yeah more than anything

This is my wish

I hope you know somebody loves you

May all your dreams stay big

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz32I_GbpeU&feature=related

-

At first, I didn't like the location of our new home. The neighborhood is dreary, depleted, almost whimpering that it's tired and ready to give up. It's sad at times, with all the poverty, restlessness, addiction, and hopelessness surrounding us. But right across the street, there is a boarded up factory. From the ground, it looks downright ugly and pitiful, with grafitti on the walls and garbage scattered about. From the top of our driveway across the street though, the view is different, hopeful, comforting. From my viewpoint, especially on a difficult day, the building stands bright and tall, with it's worn red brick beaming at me - like a warm beacon showing me the way home through a sea of tears. Most importantly, among the rows and rows of boarded up windows there is one open window in the center of the top row. It reflects the sunlight beautifully. I can't figure it out - why is it open when all the others are closed? I wonder if the people who boarded up the windows did it for a reason, to leave behind a little glimpse of what once must have been a thriving area? More likely, it was done without much thought, probably not even as much thought as I've given it. I wonder if anyone else in the neighborhood notices it, sees its beauty, draws strength from it? I've learned to love our new home, our new neighborhood. Over time, I've learned to remember to see the good surrounding us.

-

It may seem silly, but to me that open window is hope right there on a brick wall. When I look at it, it reminds me of the Rascal Flatts' song My Wish, and it reminds me that things aren't always as dismal as they appear at first glance. There are so many times with my children when I feel like I'm running in to brick walls at every turn, when I don't know how to help them, don't know where to turn or how to guide them. But right outside my window, in my dreary little neighborhood, is my daily reminder that there is always a way. And ironically, my little reminder is on a brick wall:-) Maybe sometimes when I run in to one of those brick walls I just need step back and look at it from a different perspective? It may not be obvious, or easy to get to, and it may be in a place where we would least expect to find it - but there IS hope. There IS an open window, even when all the other doors and windows are closed. I have to believe that. For my children- somewhere, somehow- there will always be an open window.

-

Yes, the song is a cheesy country song, certainly not the type of music I usually listen to. But, it's officially "our song," our family song, the one my big kids sing along to loudly in the car, and the one that I've taken to singing (horribly) to my babies at night. This is my wish for them - no matter where they are, and no matter what they do, when it's time for them to find their own way in the world, I hope that on even their darkest days they remember to look for that open window. I hope they hold on tightly to their big dreams, follow the good in their hearts, and most of all, I hope they always, always, know somebody loves them.