Toe ek 'n klein kind was, het dit vreeslik lekker gelyk om 'n grootmens te wees.
Want grootmense het tjekboeke en motorliksense en hulle mag nagmaalwyn drink En doen net wat hulle wil. Vroue dra hoëhakskoene en sykouse, en ons kinders moet tevrede wees om skool-skool te speel met geleerde sykouse en garetolletjies vasgeskroef aan ons ou skoene. Grootmense eet die soet waatlemoen krone, en ons kinders moet die waterige skywe eet. Hulle mag kies watter stukkie hoender hulle wil hê. En dan mag ons nie ons monde opblaas oor die benerige vlerkie waaraan daar partykeer nog haartjies vassit nie. Kinders moet altyd maak soos grootmense sê. Al is jy nie vaak nie, moet jy gaan slaap as jou ma so sê. Jy moet jou kool eet omdat jou pa sê jy kry nie tiekie poeding met eiervla voordat jou kool nie opgeëet is nie. Nooit as te nimmer mag jy waag om in grootmens geselskap rond te sit nie, want dan tel jy tande. Die slegste van alles was as jou ma jou roep om vir die grootmense klavier te speel. En niks kan jou naarder maak as kasterolie nie. Jy moet dit drink, want jou ma sê jy gaan wurms kry van speel in die sand om Modderkoekies te bak en paaie te bou. Want die werfkatte grou hulle gaatjies in die sand. Uiteindelik het dit toe so gekom dat ek 'n grootmens met 'n man en twee kinders geword het. Met hoëhakskoene, lipstiek, gepermde hare, bestuurslisensie en tjekboek. Eers toe het ek gesien dis nie altyd lekker om 'n grootmens te wees nie. Partykeer is dit baie moeilik. Want nou is jy die een wat moet sorg vir kos, petrol, skoolgeld, kampgeld, klere, medisyne, vakansie . Toe jy 'n kind was, het jy geglo die kerk gee Gesangeboekies en Bybels en Sondagskool boeke weg. En tannie Mabel de Waal sny jou hare verniet uit liefde. Musiekboeke en netbal klere val seker uit die lug. Vader Krismis is 'n miljoenêr en die tandmuis kan wrintiewaar 'n halfkroon in jou skoen sit. Maar nou sien jy alles kos geld, en voor jy 'n tjek kan uitskryf, moet jy eers die geld in die bank sit. Voor jy hoëhakskoene en lekkerruikgoed en mooimaakgoed koop, sorg jy dat jou Kinders alles het wat hulle nodig het. Van rakette tot handelsmerk klere, 'n skootrekenaar, selfoon. En nog en nog. Sonder dat jy dit hardop sê, staan jy in slaafskap by jou kinders. 'n Vrywillige slaaf, gebore uit liefde en instink. Soggens is jy eerste uit die bed en in die kombuis om 'n skoolhemp te stryk en skool broodjies te smeer. Saans as almal lê, maak jy kombuis aan die kant. Jy vat nooit die grootste peer in die vrugtebord nie, en as daar net twee frikkadelle in die bak is, sê jy nee dankie, want jou maag is vol. As jou kinders hartseer is, troos jy hulle. As jy hartseer is, gaan huil jy in die nag by die visdammetjie. So werk dit nog al die eeue. En as die wêreld nie intussen vergaan nie, sal dit oor vele eeue steeds so werk. Ek wens ek kon net een keer weer 'n kind wees en dat my pa en ma nog leef sodat ek vir hulle kan dankie sê vir al die opofferinge wat hulle gemaak het. My ma wat op die bed se rand sit en my hoesmedisyne met 'n teelepel gee. My pa wat die plaasbakkie met die trekker deur die vloedrivier trek om ons op 'n Vrydag by die koshuis te gaan haal. As ek my oë toemaak en terugdink, sien ek eindelose onbaatsugtige ouer-offers. En ek wens ek kon vir vandag se kinders 'n grootmensbril opsit sodat hulle die offers van hulle ouers kan raaksien. En betyds kan dankie sê, want dalk kom eendag nooit. There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with, out in the woods. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner.
As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head, and killed it. He was shocked and grieved. In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile, only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing. After lunch the next day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes."But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen." Then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?" So Johnny did the dishes. Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper." Sally just smiled and said," Well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help." She whispered again, "Remember the duck?" So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help. After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's he finally couldn't stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed the he had killed the duck. Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug, and said, "Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing. But because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you." Thought for the day and every day thereafter: Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done -- and the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, debt, fear, hatred, anger, unforgiveness, bitterness, etc.) whatever it is, you need to know that God was standing at the window and saw the whole thing, God has seen your whole life. God wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you. The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness, He not only forgives you, but He forgets - It is God's Grace and Mercy. Go ahead and make the difference in someone's life today. Share this with a friend and always remember ... God is at the window............ I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded. I would have eaten the popcorn in the ‘good’ living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace. I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains. I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life. I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband. I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day. I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime. Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle. When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.” There would have been more “I love you’s”.. more “I’m sorry’s”... but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it...live it...and never give it back. If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring. He sends you a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He listens. He can live anywhere in the universe, but He chose... your heart. Face it friend, He is crazy about you! God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way. Gods Word explicity teaches us to help those less fortunate than we are. Prov 11 He instructs us to share some of what we have with those who are in need. Pure religion that is unblemished in gods sight is to visit and help and care for orphans and widdows in their afflictions and need James 1:27
Since God knows our future, our personalities, and our capacity to listen, He isn't ever going to say more to us than we can deal with at the moment. --Charles Stanley
We cannot do what is right if we do not know what is right. We must learn Gods Word and by it learn His Will and His ways. Rigtiousness is first of all a position given to us by Jesus Christ when we accept Him as Saviour. It is then to be worked out in our lives and is said to be conforming to the will of God in purpose, thoughts and action 1 John 2:9. Find your purpose and do it on purpose. God will give you the streangth and wisdom only if you step out in faith. Go for it you can make a difference.
Remembering Gods faithfulness to us is an important means of building our faith. Psalm 105:5 encourages us to recall the things He has done for us and share it with others.
Be a witness of Gods goodness today. |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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