My home is my safe haven. My son and I have lived here longer than anywhere else. We have had a lot of firsts here and lots of highs and lows. My home is does not look perfect but it is where my son and I get to be our perfectly imperfect selves every single day. I love my home and I am very grateful for it. I am also grateful that I can afford it in these very turbulent times. I am thankful that I made it through another year in my home.
It’s also 3 years this month since I bought my car. I thought the novelty of driving her would have worn off by now but I still love it! It is such a zippy little car. I am grateful to own the car that I do and to still be able to have fun driving it.
Seasons, reasons and lifetimes. I’m sure we have all heard the saying that some people come into your life for a season, a reason or a lifetime. Of course we only know which it is in hindsight so the only thing that is within our control is to enjoy and appreciate them while they are in your life.
Today I want to take a moment to say thank you to the people who have remained in my life this year, the new friends that have entered into my life and to those who have or are moving on. Each one of you has either helped make me stronger, kept me sane, brought a little or a lot of sunshine in my life, sprinkled some fairy dust, or held my hand when it needed to be held. These are just a few of the ways that you have helped me through this year and I hope I have done the same for you.
I don’t think I have ever believed in God answering prayers almost immediately until the end of July this year. I was dealing with an issue that had left me feeling overwhelmed. I was sitting in the bath in tears because I was at my whits end. I said a prayer to ask for help through my tears. As soon as I hopped out the bath, a new friend that I had recently made messaged me and I mentioned how upset I was and why. They immediately recommended a book that would help. I smiled because God knows that books are my favourite tools for everything. I felt better immediately just knowing that a solution existed. This friend also called me a few days later to talk me through a few techniques I could also use to change the situation when it arose again and, ultimately, overcome it. I am so grateful for this person and for the impact they have had on my life in a very short space of time.. They are literally God sent.
This year I have had a lot to celebrate but life has also thrown a few challenges my way. I am grateful for these challenges though as I’ve learnt a lot about my perception of myself and the people I interact with. Mostly I am grateful to God for hearing my cries and sending me help whenever requested.
I am especially grateful for all the help I have received with getting my son through his first year of grieving for his dad. Thank you to my friends (old and new) and family for listening when I needed to vent, for your prayers for my child and for your guidance.
I have had to make changes in order to give him the space to find his own way through his anger and grief. I have had to accept that sometimes my behaviours were not helping him at all and so I had to stop some of them to bring about a change in his behaviours. I am amazed at how quickly he has learnt to recognise when his behaviour hasn’t been optimal and he needs to stop and pivot.
He is such an amazing kid. I am truly blessed to be to his mum.
Grounded African 