Hope. It’s a four-letter word defined by the dictionary as an aspiration, desire, wish, expectation, ambition, aim, goal, or plan. It’s a word that you see engraved over doorways or etched in bold on a sign that you might buy from HomeGoods. It’s a feel-good word; a word that brings a restless heart peace or helps us through the most difficult times. But for me, the word hope will always first remind me of my dear friend, Hope Bertelsen. Last week, on Wednesday night, I attended Hope’s funeral service to celebrate the 23 years that she spent on earth. I’ve been racking my brain, searching for the perfect words to capture how beautiful Hope’s soul was. You see, at the age of 12, Hope was diagnosed with cancer. Upon hearing this diagnosis, she did not cry. I like to believe that in that moment she made a pact to herself, deep in her heart, that should fight; and she would fight hard.
Hope was the strongest, bravest, and most humble person I have ever met in my entire life, and I do not use those words lightly. For eleven years she battled this disease, but she was not cancer. She was fun, full of life, and she brought joy into any room that she entered. Hope was an unbelievably radiant light in a pretty dark world. She lived for Jesus and she touched the lives of everyone she came into contact with.
Last Sunday, on the day that Jesus welcomed her into heaven, my dad and I were talking about what an inspiring life Hope lived. We were in the car and my dad said to me, “I have never met someone who so closely emulated who Jesus is.” That one hit me hard. It was just one sentence, but it was packed with so much truth. I thought about Hope and how positive she was. She wasn’t only a fighter against cancer, but she was a warrior for Jesus. She was a soldier for the Kingdom.
I share this story about Hope with you all because it is my wish that you can be as inspired as I am to live life the way Hope did. She lived life to the fullest and loved with no bounds and it was all for Christ. The last couple of months have been tough. Fundraising is hard and it feels like I have hit a wall when it comes to finding new ideas. I am overwhelmed about all of the gear that I still need to purchase before Training Camp. I am scared. Eleven months in eleven countries with all known comforts stripped away won’t be easy. But God provides. He promises us that He will never leave us and never forsake us. He answers prayers, provides provision, and is the most solid comfort when we are distressed.
I think of Hope and I think of Jesus. I think of her beautiful smile in the midst of her pain and I think of Jesus giving His life on the cross to take away our sin. I think of her passion and fire to live a life that touched others and radiated Jesus’ love to everyone she met. I am so inspired by the 23 years that Hope spent here on earth, and I can only pray that I may live life as boldly, faithfully, and compassionately as she did.
Rest in the sweetest peace my dear friend; I know you are the most beautiful angel.
This is Hope, doing her thing – beautiful smile and all.
