HOPE: Lessons That Shaped My Life

by Sr. Josita Hanus, ND

H— “HANUS” I am proud to be a part of our Hanus family circle. I was blessed with great parents who taught us children so many life-long lessons and my siblings, their spouses and children who continue to model all for me as we keep each other in prayer and support.

O— “ORGANIZED” Growing up we children were always taught to keep order in our personal items and in what we shared in our home and on the farm. I tried to instill this lesson in my students during my 36 years of teaching so that our classroom bookshelves, games, etc. were kept in order for the next person to enjoy using.

P— “POLITE” As children our parents modeled for us how a polite person speaks and acts. PLEASE and THANK YOU became common words in our daily interacting with one another. I try to practice this in my daily life and also something I modeled and stressed in my classroom.

E— “ENCOURAGEMENT” Whether it was doing our schoolwork or chores around the farm…. our parents encouraged us to do the best we could. The words of love and support from my parents and siblings when I contracted polio and now as I deal with the effects of Post Polio are truly a blessing for which all I can say is… “I HOPE you know of my love and gratitude.”