THE BLESSING of the HOPE CHEST

by Jennie Chancey of the Vision Forum

     "Throughout America's first two-and-a-half centuries, parents gave each of their daughters a hope chest. Beginning in childhood, a young woman quilted blankets, embroidered sheets and towels, and collected many of the household tools she would need when she entered her married life. As the many treasures stored within the hope chest were taken out and used in the coming years, the empty chest was filled with family mementos, often including the bride's wedding gown, special keepsakes, and other personal treasures that would be passed down to the coming generations.

     "My parents gave me my own hope chest when I was 12 years old. They purchased an antique trunk and refinished it by hand. My mother then papered the inside with a beautiful liner and began to put things in the trunk that she wished to pass down to me. Into the trunk went my heirloom tea set, a length of lace tatted by my great-grandmother, my first set of dishes and mementos, each of which reminded me of my parents' love and devotion. I also added things to the trunk over the years, including a sampler I embroidered and several journals I had filled. When I was married, I enjoyed unpacking all of my treasures to use in my new home, and my trunk now graces my living room, where it holds special gifts I intend to pass to my own children.

     "The beautiful tradition of the hope chest has been lost on our modern society. Many do not see continuity between generations, and few believe that those who lived before us have anything to offer our "enlightened" minds. Our ancestors would mourn our folly. We have much to learn from our parents, grandparents, and ancestors spanning the generations before us. I am immensely thankful for the carefully preserved letters and photographs that have been passed down to me -- the resident family genealogist -- and I am even more grateful to my parents for teaching me to embrace and love the beliefs and traditions of their parents and grandparents.

     "It is not enough to store beautiful things in an heirloom chest and hope for the best. We must impress beautiful thoughts and high ideals upon our girls if we hope to see their lives blossom into rewarding womanhood. A hope chest is a wonderful way to bring to life an old tradition or begin a new one. As we place treasures into hope chests for our daughters, may we also invest time and love into their hearts so that they enter life with a storehouse of love, womanly skills, able minds, and contentment."

A message from the Vision Forum: 

When we published our second edition of The Beautiful Girlhood Collection this year, we knew we were launching a direct attack against the feminist elites who, for decades, have fought to undermine the significance of virtue, femininity, and home in the life of a girl. We continue to aspire, by the grace of God, to encourage the rebuilding of a culture of biblical womanhood. We dare to say that boys and girls are different, and that such differences should be emphasized, not ignored. In a world that frowns on femininity, that minimizes motherhood, and that belittles the beauty of being a true woman of God, we dare to believe that the biblical vision for girlhood is a glorious vision. It is, in fact -- a beautiful vision. It is a vision for purity and contentment, for faith and fortitude, for enthusiasm and industry, for heritage and home, and for joy and friendship. It is a vision so bright and so wonderful that it must be boldly proclaimed.