The friendly summer raindrops left criss-cross trails down her mom’s sowing room window. It was late December in the mid 1970’s and only a few days before she had to start ‘big’ school. Dad had just finished mowing the lawn before the weather came in. Clad in his ‘huisbroek’ and garden shoes she watched through the misted glass as he pushed the old mower into the shed. She had been with him moments earlier, walking behind the two-stroke to help him complete one more diminishing rectangle, until only the last little patch remained. Sitting here in her favourite place a sense of warmth surrounded her as she recalled the events of the past few weeks.
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Like kids again
Jigsaw in the Sky
Any analogy falls flat when pushed past the red line, but indulge me while I paint the picture, the big one, a story larger than you or I. Non-parents, bear with me….
Doing jigsaw puzzles with kids is one of those activities which inevitably magnifies your character. Are you the parent who nudges the next piece, insisting on the formula you learnt, or can you sit back and allow them to do it their way? Me, well, I probably say “look at the flippin box!” at least every 30 seconds. Do they look at the box? Seldom. Does it frustrate me? Big time. The picture is there, c’mon, Cinderella’s mouse does not go above her head, and Tigger is usually facing up, get it?
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You owe me, God
We have more now than any generation that preceded us. Technology, medicines, infrastructure and a whole bunch of retailers clamouring to keep us happy. Convenience awaits on every street corner, the air conditioner better not be set wrong, and man, that lady at the checkout queue sure can take her time — I’ve got a good mind to buy my free-range_low-fat_slow-roasted_chicken somewhere else.
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God loves you
Bumper stickers are not cool anymore, and only weirdos continue to wear smiley-faced “God loves you” pins. Truth be told, we sing it, preach it and use it in words of encouragement to one another, but we are not so sure about this. What is God like, and what does he really think when he looks at me?
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Black or White
Blessed are the strong, for they will have the victory
Blessed are the assertive, for they will get their own way
Blessed are the tenacious, for their single-mindedness will bring them success
There, that’s pretty much the way it is. If you do not like the “new and improved” beatitudes, you will be voted off. Sent home at the next tribal council. Face reality for a moment – you’re not Snow flippin White, living under a big tree in a strawberry patch with your forest friends. The world is hard, and God helps those who help themselves.
Nothing could be further from the truth…
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