Childlike Faith | #MyFridayStory No. 368

When you’re immersed in something, the changes can be so subtle and small that you barely notice them. But over time—say, 62 years—those changes add up. Looking back, you can appreciate the significance of each nudge and bump, scrape and cut along the way. I am astounded and in awe of the life I am living, to the point of feeling overwhelmed. Not because life is easy—far from it—but because, mystically, I am completely at peace and content with life as it is.

Since that accident on May 30, 2023, everything has started to become clearer. Lying on the tarmac, staring up at the massive truck that had crashed into my scooter and broken my femur, I felt a blanket of faith covering me, seeping into my soul. Although I didn’t fully understand it at the time, I knew I needed to become humble and accept that this was necessary. Necessary for me to be still, to listen, and to learn obedience to His call. Every moment since then has been another step toward the enlightenment I’m experiencing today.

For instance, my phone was destroyed in the accident. When I arrived at the hospital, I was without it for 12 days. Imagine how much thinking, contemplating, listening, and praying you can do when the constant noise of notifications is silenced. For the first 26 days, my leg was in traction, and I lay in a hospital bed with little to do but reflect. Each morning at 5 a.m., the nurses would sing harmonies of worship that filled the ward with beauty. Those songs became a balm for my soul.

That’s just the beginning. The accident was a defining point, pushing me toward humility and a more servant-focused life. God was nurturing me, tenderising me, and preparing me to be receptive to His will. He wasn’t asking me to be a passive passenger but a vessel for His purpose. Through this journey, I’ve come to understand that surrendering to His will doesn’t mean giving up; it means embracing the role He has for you, with all its paradoxes and challenges.

My Parents introduced me to Jesus before I could talk—through baptism. Their promise to raise me in His way was fulfilled in every detail. If there’s one thing I wish everyone could experience, it’s the love I received from my Mom and Dad. Their deep love for each other and their unshakable faith set a foundation for their four children to grow up surrounded by extraordinary blessings.

Growing up, our church would occasionally hold moments of silent prayer, where anyone in the congregation could stand and speak their own prayer aloud. The silence was thick, punctuated only by the occasional creak of a wooden pew. On two separate occasions, when I was five or six years old, I stood up to pray. I can still remember the first time: sitting next to my mom, my feet dangling off the pew, I shuffled forward. Sensing my movement, my mom tried to pull me back, but I brushed off her hand, slid to the floor, and began to pray out loud. Even in the conservative and stiff environment of a Dutch Reformed Church in the 60s and 70s, nothing could sway me from obeying the call to pray.

Faith has carried me through struggles and hardships. I’ve had my share of challenges, but through faith in Him, I’ve never been forsaken. That doesn’t mean life has been easy. It means I’ve been given the strength to endure. Every hardship, every failure, every misstep—He has turned each into a victory. It’s when you’ve experienced the worst that the best becomes not only attainable but deeply appreciated.

A fulfilling life isn’t about Ferraris and mansions in Hyde Park. It’s about gratitude for what you have and what you can do with it. As a child of God, you have the power to change lives—not just your own, but those of everyone you meet. Imagine the ripples you can send through the cosmos with such childlike faith in a God who has never stopped loving you.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Have a wonderful weekend and remember to be generous! ??

As always, thanks for reading. ??

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