Sunday
Dear Elsie
Last night we went to bed jubilant! We won the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The wind was howling outside. I went out on the balcony and roared a loud cry of relief – it was whisked away by the wind, but I found I was not alone. Other shouts of victory swept across the valley. What a win. And after posting a message yesterday…
…they didn’t get the message.
The game began in the dressing room. While the All Blacks prepared for their Haka, the Springboks had a prayer.
Win or lose, it was in God’s hands now.
The battle was fierce & it was not without controversy. The nerves were telling. With less than a minute to go, Cheslyn Kolbe (in the sin-bin) couldn’t watch. My nerves were shot!
It was so tense, but victory was ours & the celebration was sweet… 
So that’s 4.
The Kolisi family celebrating on the field, with the cup, in the rain. Nothing would dampen anyone’s mood. 
It was fun today walking through Checkers and seeing people from all walks of life with Springbok shirts on. Everyone was still excited. We walked to Fish Hoek in the howling wind and bought the newspaper.
And after this historic sporting win, I was reminded that we are just a moment in time. In the newspaper, I read some of the things that happened on this day during the course of history. Way back on 29th October 312, Constantine the Great entered Rome. This was after his victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge against Maxentius the previous day. He was met with popular jubilation. The battled marked the beginning of Constantine’s conversion to Christianity and he was the first emperor to do so. Study.com says this…
The rugby battle of last night doesn’t have the lasting significance that the Battle of Milvian Bridge did 1711 years ago.
The God we serve is the same one who bought Constantine through his battle. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. We can trust Him regardless of our circumstances, be they winning (or losing) the World Cup, in sickness and in health, in good times and hard. He’s the same. He’s our Foundation – the Rock on Whom we build our life. It will all be okay because of Him.
Isaiah 30:15
This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength….”
It’s not about now – we are only passing through.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you.
In His Grip,
Gran xx 🙂