As I reflect on hope, Bertha comes to mind. She was the embodiment of the virtue of Hope. Bertha lived an extraordinary life filled with more than her share of tragedy and sorrow, while at the same time her life was filled with joy. Love, life, and laughter filled the house whenever Bertha was present. Bertha had a gift for making everything bearable through her good humor and sensible outlook. She lived her life with antidotes and comical stories from her youthful years for every occasion. No one could make us laugh like Bertha. And as an artist, Bertha’s greatest joy was to create beauty for her loved ones.
Bertha lived with a certainty about life. Through all things good and bad, Bertha kept her focus fixed on the “winning prize” of eternal life.
Bertha, my mother, passed away at the ripe young age of 95. It has been less than a year since her passing and my siblings and I are still mourning the loss of her physical presence with us. Most recently, however, we began to laugh again, just as we did with Bertha. During this time of Corona with all the atrocities that we have experienced, and now the threat of a world war, I know that I will be okay because I learned from Bertha how to face life with a deep, unwavering hope that passes all understanding.
Where have you found hope during the time of Corona?