When Hope was born, his father didn�t name him. He was a tiny ant, barely half the size of his brothers. What good was such a tiny ant? But one night Hope�s father dreamed that his son grew to become a great ant, who fed all the ants in the colony.
����������� Because of the dream his father named him Hope, and he watched each morning as his son left the colony with the other ants to search for food. Every evening Hope returned with a single grain of wheat or a single grass seed. He struggled with his burden, while the other ants passed by carrying whole caterpillars or beetles. Often they snickered, or ordered Hope to get out of the way. But he never complained. While the other ants celebrated and gorged on their booty, Hope just went about his business with cheer.
����������� Throughout the summer, God provided the colony with ample food. But then in the fall, tragedy struck. A raging forest fire swept through the area, confining the ants below ground for days. When all was quiet, they ventured out again to find only charred trees and ash. They searched for food but all was gone. Thankfully, they had stored away some food for the winter. But, the hungry ants quickly consumed their larder. Hope continued to venture out each day, but returned empty handed.
����������� After their final stores had been exhausted and there still were no plants or insects to be found outside, the ants began to grumble and quarrel amongst themselves. In the midst of their arguing, Hope appeared carrying a single seed on his back. The ants quickly devoured the seed and then turned again to Hope. But he was already disappearing into a strange tunnel. They went after him into the darkness, squeezing their way behind him. When it seemed that they could go no farther, suddenly the passage opened out into an enormous room. Then they bumped into something big. As their eyes adjusted to the darkness, they saw standing before them an enormous pile of seeds carefully stacked and reaching up to the ceiling.
����������� The ants let out a cheer, and chanting his name they hoisted Hope onto their backs. Hope had saved the colony for he had stored up enough for all to survive until the plants once again burst from the dead earth and the insects returned. �Jonathon Brenner