I was listening to a podcast and there was a discussion of hope in the context of relationships. The point was that when we are faced with a relationship challenge, we have to balance hope with truth.  

Any adoption or foster care placement begins with a birth family. When a birth mother makes the decision to place her child for adoption, it is never easy. Most of the time, a birth mother decides to place her child for adoption because she has no other option. Most birth mothers do not have a good support system of family or friends who can help them. In addition, some birth mothers find themselves in a situation in which they are homeless, unemployed, battling addiction or are at a place in their life where they are simply not ready to be a parent.

Ahhh, charting our way through life. Seems so simple when you think about it, but then we run into those rough and rocky roads.  Maybe you are one of those people whose life rarely encounters difficulties.  Maybe you are someone that has hurts coming at you all the time.