Recently, our family have debated long and sometimes vociferously over the whole Judge Brett Kavanaugh thing. He is hoping to be a Supreme Court Judge and was on the verge of being confirmed into that position when he was accused of some inappropriate behaviour at a party when he was 17 years old. This massive drama of ‘she says, he says’ unfolded on live TV watched by millions of people, including us. While we don’t know what to believe it did get me thinking of a crazy scary memory – something that happened to me when I was very young. I was about 11. My older siblings used to make string art – similar to this…
They would convince me to go and try to sell them, telling me I would get a slice of the pie. I remember taking one on a black piece of wood. I was not far from where I live. There was a small shopping centre with a petrol station on one side. Close to the petrol station, there was a house with a driveway that went down the side of the property. I think I saw a car in the car port so I knew there was someone home. I walked down the driveway. The front door, I recall was on the side of the house and I think it was open. There was a man inside. I told him that I was selling the picture. He said something like, ‘you are, are you?’. He seemed to be interested in buying it. I was amazed. He said he was going to get the money and he left the room and walked down the passage to his bedroom. I stayed in the lounge.
And then he called me.
I hesitantly walked down the passage, slowing as I got to the entrance to his bedroom. He summoned me inside. I entered, standing just inside the door. Loud alarm bells started going off in my young head. I was torn between wanting to sell the art, but fearful of what would happen next. Whatever was happening before me did not seem to be a financial transaction of a piece of wood art between a young girl and an older man. He wasn’t getting money. He was sitting on the bed. I turned and I ran. He didn’t try to stop me. I ran down the passage and I bolted out the front door, down the driveway, along the cycle track and to my house.
I never sold wood art again.
What’s amazing is that I can find that house on Google maps.
By God’s grace, I was not harmed, but I have never forgotten. I couldn’t tell you who the man was, how old he was or what he looked like, but I do remember where he lived and a sixth sense of being in intense danger. It was 42 years ago.
As I looked on Google maps and found my house in Harare, Zimbabwe, I marvelled at what God has done over the last 42 years. I was so lost in those days. I felt lonely and uncared for. God changed all that when I started my journey of faith in believing that Jesus died for my sins and that He rose again. I can have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. People may think it is a strange set of beliefs, but it changed my life.
Today has been a good day. I only did seven hours of work after yesterday’s gruelling 12.
#907 of my 1000 thanks is time I had today with Mike and time to do some shopping. I feel we are on top of things.
#908 of my 1000 thanks is that today, Elsie’s cousin was born! Adrian’s brother’s wife gave birth to their son who they have named Tjaart, like his Dad. So excited for them!
1 Corinthians 15:57
Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
These are the days.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you.
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂
Gym:
I’m giving my knees a rest, so this morning I did:
- 30 minutes fast walking on the treadmill.
- 30 minute using the weight machines.
I’ll take the Grid up again next week. The Grid has a lot of jarring and squats and lunges which have caused a bit of knee pain. I have not swum for ages. Why? Because I can’t find my swimming cap and goggles. They’ve disappeared!