Page 8 - Good News January 2009 paper

is die Saterdagmiddag
4 dae voor Kersfees. Ek
Dword laatmiddag kop-
seer en bedruk wakker. Dit was
'n moeilike jaar. Sinkplaatpad.
Slote, slaggate... dongas.
Daar was storms van ver-
keerd verstaan en wrywing.
Koue van afsydigheid, soms
verwerping. Skemerte van
kommer en vertwyfeling.
Rukwinde van teleurstelling
en ontnugtering. Totale duis-
ternis weens die dood van
geliefdes.
Soms was ek drenkeling,
meegesleur deur 'n golf van
vrees en kleingeloof. Soms
uitgespoel op 'n eiland van
alleen....
Die kersfeesboom is nog in sy
boks. Ek besluit om hierdie
stukkie ongereformeerde
feestelikheid te gaan uithaal.
Dis immers net één maal per
jaar Kersfees! Gewapen met
die boom en die versierings,
spring ek aan die werk:
? Goud en rooi geskenkpakkies; ons geskenke aan mekaar; Sy geskenk aan
ons..... SMILING
Viole, tromme, trompette, harpe; 'n hele orkes om Sy naam te verheerlik ...
?
Klein engeltjies; 'n hele leërskare wat sing tot Sy eer ...
? IN THE STORM
Goue dennebolle en rooi appeltjies; uit die oorvloed van Sy Skepping...
?
An Atlantic liner was caught in a storm. For two
'n String klokke wat lui om die koms van die Kind aan te kondig.
? days the wind raged. Passengers were
En heel bo-op: 'n Ster. NEE, hierdie een is nie Betlehem se ster nie. Hierdie een is frightened. At last an anxious passenger
myne, want hier in hierdie huis en onder hierdie dak woon 'n gesin wat ondanks al climbed with great effort to where he could see
die storms en teëslae stééds staande is. Ons is almal nog hier! Ons het oorleef, the pilot. Coming back among the passengers
ten spyte van die koue, rukwinde, duisternis, golwe... Want ons Hemelse Vader he spread the glad tidings of peace. Said he, "We
was áltyd daar, bý ons, elke tree van die pad, hóé ongelyk ook al... are all right. The ship will make port, for I have
Vanaand skyn Betlehem se ster tóg in my sitkamer! © Estie Nel-de Jager seen the pilot, and he is smiling."
With the Great Pilot directing our lives, we can
smile on through every storm and smiling, be at
peace.
- Knight's Master Book of New Illustrations

Continued from p. 6
Continued from p. 6
"You bet!" I shouted back, "God bless!" "God
bless!" And that was the last I saw of him.
Late that evening as I left my office, the wind blew
strong. The cold front had settled hard upon the
town. I bundled up and hurried to my car.
As I sat back and reached for the emergency brake,
I saw them... a pair of well-worn brown gloves neatly
laid over the length of the handle. I picked them up
and thought of my friend and wondered if his hands
would stay warm that night without them. I remem-
bered his words: "If you see something that
reminds you of me, will you pray for me?"
Today his gloves lie on my desk in my office. They
help me to see the world and its people in a new and
different way, and they help me remember those
two hours with my unique friend and to pray for his
ministry. "See you in the New Jerusalem," he said.
"Yes, Daniel, I know I will..."
I shall pass this way but once. Therefore, any good
that I can do or any kindness that I can show, let me
do it now, for I shall not pass this way again.
- Dunamis March/April 2002