"Hope" is the things with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all    

Dickinson's well-known poem captures the paradoxical nature of hope: it is fragile and tough all at once.  How does this paradox show up in your own hopes?

Mighty God, your strength amazes us.  Your willingness to give up your strength and come to us as a tiny infant amazes us too.  Thank you for coming to be God-with-us.  Amen.