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The Hope Chest
At first glance, a Hope Chest appears to be a fancy box that is filled with beautiful things that a young bride can use to furnish her new home. Some of the items are purely for beauty and decoration, others have sentimental value as priceless keepsakes, and other items have a very practical purpose in helping the young bride become established in the home. But whatever items are found in the chest, there is so much more that goes into a Hope Chest than mere materialistic or superficial items. And there is so much more purpose to the Hope Chest than to merely aid in furnishing and decorating the bride’s new home.
The process of compiling and putting together a Hope Chest, can be a real journey that carries a young lady from girlhood to womanhood. It is a time of preparing her for her future role as a homemaker, in more than just the physical sense.
If a mother is intentional about embarking on this journey with her daughter, it can be a great opportunity for the mother to prepare her daughter for her future life as wife, mother, and homemaker.
It can be a journey of teaching her tangible skills, such as cooking, sewing, caring for children, gardening, and housekeeping . . .teaching her these important skills while at the same time compiling the supplies or tools that can help her implement these skills in the future.
It is also a journey of hopes and dreams. Along with the materialistic items a girl places in her Hope Chest, she also places along with them a great many dreams and expectations for the future. With the wise guidance of her mother, the dreams and expectations that go into the Hope Chest can really serve to help the girl be realistic in her dreams for the future. Instead of fantasizing about her prince charming, true love’s kiss, and the prospect of living “happily ever after”, a girl who is active in preparing for a life as a homemaker can have a much more realistic view of what to expect in the future.
Getting married is about so much more than love and romance, and gathering together the tools and supplies needed to efficiently care for a home and family can be a great way to emphasize this fact and prepare your daughter in advance for the great responsibility that awaits her as she anticipates becoming a wife and mother.
What to Put in Your Hope Chest
Here are some basic items that are often found in a Hope Chest:
BOOKS
* Family Bible
* Hymnal or Songbooks
* Cookbook
* Children’s storybooks
KEEPSAKES
* Framed photographs
* Family heirlooms
* Journals
HOUSEHOLD SUPPLIES
* Dishes (or nice China)
* Pots and Pans
LINENS
* Bed sheets
* Quilt
* Tablecloths
* Towels and dishcloths
* Potholders
BABY SUPPLIES
* Cloth diapers
* Baby clothes
* Baptism gown
* Baby blankets
SEWING SUPPLIES
* Sewing machine
* Sewing kit
* Knitting needles
This is just a basic list to get you started and give you an idea of what can go in the Hope Chest. But if you are looking for a more complete list of ideas, or want to know more about Hope Chests, I would really recommend the following book: “The Hope Chest: A Legacy of Love” by Rebekah Wilson. This is the best book I have found on the topic. A beautiful book that describes the history and legacy of the Hope Chest, the beauty and purpose behind it, and very practical instruction on how you can compile your own Hope Chest (including a very detailed list of things that can be put inside).
