I heard recently Friday of a man who was diagnosed with incurable cancer who was told in no uncertain terms to get his affairs in order.

So, he gave his money away to loved ones and braced himself for the inevitable.

That was 9 years ago!

This man is still alive and now “broke”, as he jokes.

Doctors must be honest but they must never take away hope because without hope men and women cannot face another day.

I have not been able to get this story out of my mind because in so many ways we tend to become despondent about the future when adversity strikes and, wouldn’t you agree, terminal cancer is about as hopeless as it gets?

The reality is that there is always hope.

People overcome all sorts of odds every day.  Even divorce, unemployment, health issues and unrealized dreams can be salvaged.

So, two things this morning:

1.  Give yourself hope that you can overcome all odds because it is amazing what hope can do.

2.  Give the gift of hope to someone else – a child, a friend, a person down and out in the face of adversity.

Hope is the fuel that keeps us going.