Charlea Grey
I am a poor man but I prayed to the Lord and He heard me. He saved me from all my trouble. Psalm 34:6, English Bible for the Deaf
Recently, I was fortunate enough to go away for a long weekend with my husband and daughter to one of my favourite destinations in the country. The Garden Route has held a special place in my heart since childhood because we spent many December holidays there with our large family.
I remember how, during many vacations, I would sit on a bench by the sea in the late afternoon or even at night, listening to the crashing waves. Those moments alone on the bench were my own special quiet time. It was a time to organise my thoughts after a long year, to process my worries and to work through my feelings. Many times, I sat there praying and experiencing God’s voice in the waves. Sometimes, my mind was filled with chaos and at other times, it was just thoughts about life or concerns about the new school year. Even back then, I found comfort in the cool sea breeze and something peaceful in the flickering lights of Mossel Bay in the distance.
Shortly after we arrived, I took a walk to the beach with my toddler. When we reached the wooden steps, the moment felt overwhelming to me. I was close to tears. There was something sacred about showing her the place that held such a big part of my childhood and my deepest emotions, even if she didn’t fully understand. As we walked down the path, two women pointed out dolphins playing in the water.
God knows how and where to find us. Do you hear his voice? God’s voice is not only confined to church during a sermon or in a Bible verse. You can hear his voice in other places too – sometimes in nature, in the wind, in the crashing waves, but also in the silence. Even in traffic. Sometimes in beautiful music. Or in moments when you feel great joy or deep sorrow. Yes, God knows where to find you and you never need to worry about that. He knows when and where your heart and soul are open. He knows.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for always knowing where to find me and touching my heart. Help me to hear your voice in my life. Amen.
Charlea Grey
Ek kan myself nie beskerm nie, ek het gebid, en die Here het gehoor. Hy het my gered van alles wat dit sleg laat gaan het met my. Psalm 34:7, Bybel vir almal
Ek was nou die dag gelukkig om saam met my man en kind vir 'n langnaweek weg te breek na een van my gunstelingbestemmings in die land. Die Tuinroete lê van kleins af na aan my hart want ons het vir baie van my grootwordjare elke Desember daar gaan vakansie hou saam met ons groot familie.
Ek onthou hoe ek baie vakansies laatmiddag of selfs in die aand op 'n bankie langs die see gaan sit en na die gedruis van die branders geluister het. Daai alleentye op die bankie was my eie, spesiale stiltetyd. Dit was tyd waarin ek my gedagtes kon orden na 'n lang jaar, dinge waaroor ek my bekommer het kon deurtrap, gevoelens kon verwerk. Ek het baiekeer op daai bankie gesit en gebid en God se stem in die branders beleef. Soms was my kop vol muisneste, soms was dit sommer net gedagtes oor die lewe, bekommernisse oor 'n nuwe skooljaar. Daar was daai tyd al vir my troos in die koel seelug en iets vreedsaam in Mosselbaai se liggies wat in die verte flikker.
Kort na ons aankoms nou die dag, het ek alleen saam met my dogtertjie strand toe gestap. Toe ons by die houttrappies kom, was die oomblik vir my groot en oorweldigend. My trane het vlak gesit. Daar was iets heilig daaraan om ná hoeveel jaar vir haar die plek te gaan wys waar 'n baie groot gedeelte van my grootword en my hartsdinge lê, selfs al verstaan sy min. Toe ons by die paadjie afstap het twee vroue vir ons gewys waar dolfyne in die water baljaar.
God weet hoe en waar om ons te vind. Hoor jy sy stem? God se stem is nie net in die kerk tydens 'n preek of in 'n Bybelvers opgesluit nie. Jy sal sy stem ook op ander plekke hoor. Soms in die natuur, in die wind, die gedruis van branders, maar ook in die stilte. Selfs in die verkeer. Dis soms in mooi musiek. Of iewers waar jy baie gelukkig of selfs hartseer is. Ja, God weet waar om jou te vind, daaroor hoef jy jou nooit te bekommer nie. Hy weet wanneer en waar jou hart en gemoed oop is. Hy wéét.
Gebed: Dankie Vader dat U altyd weet waar om my te vind en dat U my hart aanraak. Help my U stem in my lewe te hoor. Amen.
Charlea Grey
That is why we try to live in the right way, so that God will be pleased with us while we live in our bodies and also when we no longer live in our bodies, after we have died. 2 Corinthians 5:9, English Bible for the Deaf
One ordinary Friday morning, we received the devastating news at work that a colleague had passed away unexpectedly. As the news spread through the office, I felt increasingly heartbroken. Just the day before, we had been exchanging e-mails about work.
A few days later, I was on my way to the office when a colleague, who was heading to the memorial service, convinced me to attend. The service turned out to be a celebration of her colourful life – her playful sense of humour, her incredible talent and creativity, her deep love for her husband and sons, her insight into people, and the wonderful colleague, friend, wife and mother she was.
As I drove away, my heart was still heavy with sorrow over the immense loss, but I was also filled with admiration for the beautiful words spoken about her. So many people attended that extra chairs had to be brought in. I suddenly regretted not having had the chance to get to know her better.
The thing about death is that it forces you to reflect on your own life, on what truly matters. In the end, it’s not about awards, important titles or achievements. Those are not the things people talk about or celebrate when someone is no longer here. It’s the other qualities, the ones that make people feel loved and seen, that inspire such beautiful tributes.
How will people remember me one day? Yes, it may seem sombre to think about it this way, but I was reminded again of the profound impact we can have on others. And now I ask myself: How do people experience me? How do my colleagues perceive me at work? How do my family and loved ones experience me? What are the things that linger in people’s minds after I leave a room?
Prayer: Lord, help me to embrace life and live it to the fullest. Help me to live in a way that allows me to have a positive impact on others. Amen.
Charlea Grey
Daarom probeer ons om só te lewe dat die Here tevrede sal wees met ons terwyl ons in ons liggame woon en ook wanneer ons nie meer in ons liggame woon nie. 2 Korintiërs 5:9, Bybel vir almal
Op 'n doodgewone Vrydagoggend kry ons by die werk die slegte nuus dat 'n kollega onverwags dood is. Soos wat die nuus deur die kantoor begin versprei, voel ek net meer en meer verslae. Ons het die vorige dag nog oor werkdinge e-posse gestuur.
Op 'n bloedige warm Woensdag is ek op pad kantoor toe, maar 'n kollega wat op pad is na die roudiens oortuig my om dit tog by te woon. Die roudiens is eerder 'n viering van haar kleurvolle lewe – haar prettige humorsin, haar verbysterende talent en kreatiwiteit, haar liefde vir haar man en seuns, haar mensekennis, die wonderlike kollega, vriendin, vrou en ma wat sy was.
Toe ek daar wegry was my hart steeds seer oor die geweldige verlies, maar ek het soveel bewondering gehad vir die mooi goed wat oor haar gesê is. Daar was so baie mense dat nog stoele ingedra moes word. Ek was sommer van voor af spyt dat ek haar nie beter geken het nie.
Die ding van die dood is dat dit 'n mens noop om weer bestekopname te doen oor jou eie lewe. Wat is werklik belangrik? Dis helaas nie pryse, belangrike titels en prestasies nie. Dís nie die dinge waaroor mense praat en wat hulle vier wanneer iemand nie meer hier is nie. Dis die ander eienskappe, die eienskappe wat mense geliefd en raakgesien laat voel, wat maak dat mense sulke mooi dinge sê.
Hoe sal mense my eendag onthou? Ja, dit klink dalk nou droewig om so daaroor te dink, maar ek het net weer eens besef hoe groot impak 'n mens op ander kan hê. En nou vra ek myself, hoe beleef mense my? Hoe sien mense my as ek op kantoor is? Hoe beleef my familie en geliefdes my? Wat is die dinge wat mense bybly as ek 'n vertrek verlaat?
Gebed: Here, help my om die lewe aan te gryp en voluit te leef. Help my ook om my lewe so te leef dat ek 'n positiewe impak op ander kan hê. Amen.