Life is not fair!

First of all I just want to say how overwhelmed I am with the response from the Huisgenoot/You article. I am thankful for everyone taking the time to go onto the blog and especially to those taking the time to comment. We are hearing so many similar stories - some even more heartbreaking and others with a more happy ending. Every one of these are helpful. It makes us realize that we are not the only ones experiencing pain in this world. It helps us to see beyond ourselves. It makes me realise that nothing in this life is certain and that there is no recipe for a happy ending. Life is most certainly not fair. I want to express our condolences to every single mother, father and grandparent that lost their babies. We do pray for your healing and restoration as well. Know that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and that he will never forsake you.

You know what really upsets me at the moment? People with healthy kids that neglect them and despise them, some in more obvious ways than others. Off course you get the child abusers, but I'm also referring to the parents who try and delegate their God given duties, who are lazy and self-centered by pursuing their own interests before they consider the needs of their children. Children are innocent and dependent. Their hearts and souls are being moulded by their parents' decisions and actions, or lack of it. I know that society today consider the Bible's teaching as very old fashioned, but I wish people would go back to the Bible to see how the Originator of the family unit designed things to work. Maybe then our family lives will fall into place and be functional in a way that is so rare today. Maybe that's the missing element that explains why our matrics get involved in all kinds of evil on their matric holidays. People like using God's ideas but adding their own twist to it. Then it doesn't work anymore. It just falls apart. Its like saying I want to drive a car but i only like 3 wheels on mine and i don't want to pay so much for petrol so I'll just put in coke. And safety belts are just so last season, we don't need them any more. As you can see this picture is heading for disaster.

Marriage between a man and a woman is God's idea. So is sex in marriage. And a father that takes the lead, loves his wife and children, cares and provides. And a mother that loves her husband and children, nurtures and trains them in the way they should go, which can only be achieved by spending enough time with them. This is not a fairytale, its the Biblical Christian family. Just a pity so many 'Christians' today don't value the Bible anymore. I know this is not possible with single parent households. But then God promises to be a father to the fatherless. He can fill the gap if we let Him.

On the 'life is not fair' topic. I explored it a bit in my mind this past week. Can you imagine a world where everything was fair? How predictable! If life was fair I guess all other religions would be true. If you do this, you get that. Guaranteed. Send a pie into the universe and the universe will send you a pie back. No charity, because if you get rewarded for charity its not charity anymore. No real kindness, because everything people do would be to score points to up their ratings on the fairness-ometer. Most people won't be able to get any children, because they're just too selfish. No one would say 'Well he got what he deserved'. Because everyone would get what they deserve. Hell, am I glad I'm not getting what I deserve! That's what differentiates Christianity from other religions. We get what we don't deserve – through Jesus! I'm getting God's mercy, what a relief!!!

We also hear so many stories of brain damaged kids. As much as some parents don't deserve their beautiful children, so much do these parents of special kids deserve a reward in heaven. On this note I want to tell you about a beautiful child like this in our family. Little Jené, our niece. She is Wessel's brother, Gerhard, and his beautiful wife, Janine's daughter. Due to a problem at birth she has quite severe Cerebral Palsy. She can't walk, talk, or eat by herself. She can't really communicate except for crying and smiling, although she can understand everything around her. She is 7 years old. Her parents are doing an amazing job. They take her with them everywhere they go, even though it can be quite a mission. They don't let it get to them when people stare. They love her with all their hearts. It really is beautiful to see. I hope that stories like ours, Jené's and the many others we heard (see all the new comments on the blog) will also open your eyes. It has changed my outlook. Its so easy to just think 'It's not my problem'. Nobody chooses to be in a situation like Jené and her parents. Its just how life happens. But its people like Jené that makes people stop and think about what is really important in life. They have a profound impact on everyone that gets to meet them. If it wasn't for tough trials in our lives, we would probably never really STOP and THINK about anything that really matters.

Beautiful Jené and I at the George market during the holidays