My Story… Part 1
- Mar 20
- 3 min read
When I was seven years old, my family immigrated from South Africa (SA) to New Zealand (NZ). I had only just started school in SA when we moved (because the age of starting school was seven years old). In NZ, you start school when you are five years old… so as you can probably imagine, that’s a huge difference. It meant that when we arrived in NZ, I was immediately put into year 3 and, therefore, I missed two of the most crucial years of learning. I was behind… more than behind… it felt like I was miles away from being on the same page. Reading, writing, and don’t even get me started on mathematics… it felt impossible. I could hardly communicate and understand english which made it even harder.
Yet, God had a purpose… God had a plan and it was greater still. So, with the unending support from God, my parents, and family, I got through it.
But... it didn't come without its challenges:
My mother would correct my spelling, read with me until it seemed like I would never understand it and then STILL continue to help me. She would look at my writing and help me make sense of what I was trying to explain. Proof read unending documents and help me make sense of the things I was trying to portray.
Crying at the dining room table because I couldn’t understand math problems, while my younger brother at that time sat under the table and gave the answers to the equations without even really thinking about it… AND not to mention that he is four years younger than I am!
My sister too, proofread more things than I could count, helping me to see the mistakes and errors in my work.
I look back on those days and say, thank You God for such AMAZING parents and siblings, who not only always loved me well, but chose to support me and help me through tough times no matter the cost.
As I’ve pursued this God given gift and dream of writing, I’m thankful for humble beginnings. My parents and my sister probably got teaching degrees for the endless hours spent in helping me! Through it all, I see God’s unending hand… I see that all of it points to one thing: God is at work through all of it.
May this short glimpse into my story not point to the resilience on my own account! BUT, simply point to the truth that God's hand was and is ever-present in each of our lives. Don't under-estimate the fact that God has a greater purpose still.
Your story has a purpose… even the difficult parts we often hide. Let God heal you from the pain of it (no matter what it is), and turn that pain into a redeeming story of His hope, love, joy, peace, and so much more!
I pray that the LORD be your comfort as you seek His guidance in this. May He be the One to redeem you like no one else could... whether its a story of immigration, battle scars from childhood, or "sin which so easily ensnares us" (Hebrews 12:1b), God can and does use it for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:26-28).
Hebrews 12:1-2
"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the [a]author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
May this encourage you as you go about the race set out before you by God.
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