The Box of Hope

Day 77: For Christmas I gave him a box of rocks. Yes, a box of rocks.

It is our little box of hope, even though he says that word does not quite fit, and I agree.

On each of the rocks I wrote a word. Here is the list.

• FAITH
• WHOLE
• STRENGTH
• TRUST
• GENTLE
• LORD
• PURE
• CHOOSE
• DEEP
• HOPE
• FOREVER
• KIND
• HEART
• BLESSED
• ONLY
• TRUTH
• YOU
• CHERISH
• HONEST
• TRUE
• PATIENCE
• PROMISE
• LOVE
• TOGETHER
• ONE
• ALWAYS
• HONOR
• PEACE
• ADORE
• JOY
• REAL
• GOD
• SAFE

I later realized I left out believe and forgive but I can always go back and add those since I saved some blank rocks.

I gave him his gift on Christmas Eve and he made it so much more amazing than I ever imagined. He went through and read each rock and put it in his lap. Then he went back through each one of them and commented. A few examples.

• HONOR - This is what I want, he said. This is how I want to live my life.
• SAFE - You are safe with me now. I know you don't feel like it yet, but you are.
• BLESSED - I am this.

He made what I was hoping to be something thoughtful into an amazing gift for both of us. As he went through each one, I just listened. I hardly spoke. He really gave me something wonderful that night. Another piece of me healed that night.

288 days. Hope.