Take a look at the two figurines above. Which one do you think is the “Angel of Hope,” the one holding up the luminous candle or the one grasping the empty lantern?
Would it surprise you to learn that they are both labeled “Angel of Hope?” I find it interesting that the Willow Tree Company would have two different angels for this category.
To me, they seem completely opposite. One appears to be offering her light to share with others, while the other angel seems to be searching for light to fill the void of her lantern. How can they both represent hope?
These two contrasting sculptures are displayed in my living room. I bought the candle holding angel several years ago, when I first started Little Light Shine Bright, because it seemed very fitting to the name. The lantern angel is one that I inherited from my mother after she went home to heaven. (This version is no longer available as it is currently retired, just like my mom♥)
A few weeks ago, I was dusting and accidentally knocked the candle-holding angel over. As if her wire-bent wings were functioning, she flew through the air and crashed on my hardwood floor. Simultaneously, her fractured limbs snapped as my heart broke. Tears streamed down my face while I searched for missing fragments of hope.
The physically broken resin didn’t crush me--It’s what the angel spiritually represented that left me feeling defeated.
As I took out the crazy-glue to piece my angel back together, I tried to make spiritual connections in my head. Maybe this is just a great representation of life and how we are like fragile jars of clay:
“We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:7-8 NLT)
But no, in my despair, I interpreted this situation as something else: broken hope☹️
When I first started Little Light Shine Bright (LLSB) back in 2017, my husband was gracious enough to supply the money to open all the aspects of the business and allow me time/money to write/print my book, Purpose Through Perspective.
After all of the initial start-up costs, the agreement was that I could keep moving forward with this as long as I earned enough money through LLSB to pay the bills to keep the company open. It was never a goal of mine to make big bucks, but rather use my writing and speaking as a ministry to help others, and make just enough to pay the annual bills that are associated with LLSB.
It started out great, even with enough profit to help others. But then over the past several years, a myriad of unexpected circumstances in life happened. And then Covid. Less speaking. Less writing. Less vendor sales. Less income. Less hope.
Last year I had already tapped into the red with LLSB, and with a decision of my annual renewal expenses just around the corner, I took my broken Angel of Hope as a sign to shut down. The money was gone, my heart was not in it, and I was looking for the exit door.
Enter the unexpected . . . I told you in a previous blog (Freaky Friday) that my husband and I have been spiritually trading places over the past few years, allowing each of us to be in the shoes of one another and gain new perspectives. I was ready to throw in the towel with LLSB, and Steven was not having it!
As quick as Amazon could deliver it, a new “Angel of Hope” figurine arrived. When I unwrapped this present from my husband, he said that my broken angel does not represent broken hope. We are in this together and working as a team to discern God’s will.
The money to pay for LLSB used to matter to him, but not anymore. As I was ready to quit, Steven was ready to pour more in and continue paying, even if that meant the cost is greater than the return. Thank you, Steven.
My mind cannot grasp the transformation I have seen. It is a blessing I can not explain, but one that I am very grateful for. And I know this is a gift from the Lord. Thank You, Jesus.
We still don’t know the full purpose of God’s plan, but we travel this road together, encouraging one another and renewing hope along the way.
I think Willow Tree had it right with both figurines . . . Sometimes we search for hope in dark places while in need of help--and sometimes we can pass on hope by offering our little light to others😊
“I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word.” (Psalm 130:5 NLT)
How’s your hope these days? I would love to hear from you!