God’s gift & Our prayer to South Africa

Located at the most southern tip of the African continent, with the long blue coastline, South Africa. Atlantic and Indian, East to West. South Africa, where are we going to, from here?

Will tomorrow come? Is there a dream we can follow?

Waar is die tyd toe kinders nog kinders was? Die sonsopkoms elke dag met sterre in hul o?. Met liefde in hul hart en ‘n blom in die hare. Kinders speel in die sand en modder, hardloop met brakkekind oral rond.

Jonges altyd op soek na nuwe neigings en liedere. Ritmes om op te dans. En so word hulle groot, voor hul ouers se o?.

Maar niemand dink aan die horlosie wat aan tel en / of soms gaan staan.

Where’s the time when parents saw life through a child’s eyes?

From the day they are born, lying in moms arms, to saying the first word, taking the very first step, learning to swim, starting studies after school and the day that we will walk with you down the aisle - the thoughts of all this hurts. It seems like yesterday, when we welcomed you into the world. Now comes even tougher times, because we know the cruelty of this world. Families are tortured and torn apart, living in different countries, hours apart. The hardest times are yet to come.

From time-to-time life seems so low and short. Where are all those plans mom and I had written down for you? My dreams for you, my child, but now I realise it was my dream and not God’s. We are placed on earth to strive for love, hope and have faith in all circumstances. But living life to the fullest has, unfortunately, changed into living day by day.

Om God se sprokies land, wat Hy vir ons geskep het, te aanskou en om te lewe vir:

Elke druppel re?n teen my wang , ek voel die wind waai.

Die uitsig vanaf Tafelberg waar dolfyne speel, die sonstraal op die oseaan.

Die lang pad van die tuinroete, Knysna se woude; vars in die geheue.

Volstruise van die Karoo, nuweling kleintjies uit die dop.

Namib woestyn se sandkorreltjies onder my voete, Namakwaland se strook fyn blomme.

Pretoria, ons Jakaranda stad, Witwatersrand, ons Goudstad.

Mielielande van die Vrystaat, beeste, skape, bokke en perde.

Arend se roep oor die Drakensberge, apies op die hoogste kruin.

Aandsterre in die lug, Kruger Park se bosveld, met leeus onder die boom en luiperd op die tak. Buffeltrop by die water gat en seekoei in die water met Olifant by die stinkhout boom.

What will tomorrow bring?

May we see, hear, feel and appreciate the blessings that God gifts us.

The sun rising every morning, may it shine from our hearts and make us glow. Welcoming friends, family and strangers equally.

The wind blowing to bring along rain, may it refresh our soul with tenderness and care, roses newly blooming in spring.

A rainbow of colours forming, may our spirit have all those colours to sparkle alike and may we understand God’s strength and power. Fires, floods, mud-slides, tornadoes and tsunamis. Is this His way of telling us something?

As we walk the road of life, may we feel the blessings of God’s earth under our feet; on our way to have a kind word for those we meet and appreciate the quiet beauty of His creations.

Vasberade sal ons wag en bid vir God se plan.

Sekonde na sekonde, Vasberade sal ons veg.

Stap vir stap deur die pyn, Vasberade sal ons sing.

Noot vir noot, totdat dit ’n melodie vorm.

Vasberade sal ons die toekoms instap en vierkantig in die o? kyk. Ons moet ons foute raaksien en as wyser mense na ons toekoms kyk.

Vir God se plan sal ons niks verruil, want Hy het als klaar beplan, maar tog in aksie oorgaan tesame met geloof en gebed.

We need to face reality, live with the consequences and realise that as inconsequential as we may seem in this great and huge universe, we are an important and vital part of God’s plan.

May He watch over us and lead us to where He wants us to be. Keep us safe from any destruction and provides us the path and memories to think about.

Gorgeous and rough days; because that is life!

God Bless South Africa!

God save my South Africa!

• written by Tdrinda Woods