My dear friends
It was an encounter between two friends in a room but it is
too precious to keep to myself. My eight-year-old friend, Frans Roos, paid me a special
visit yesterday evening. We have been friends for at least half of his life.
Frans brought me a small plastic container with lots of
coins. He then explained that for the Fun Day arranged by the Thembalethu Play Centre last
Saturday he had prepared some sweet items for sale. As it turned out, he went into all
that trouble for my benefit; the princely sum of R16 from the proceeds was to cover my
medical costs! I fought hard to keep back the tears; the pleasant surprise just
overwhelmed me.
When Frans asked how much my medication cost I sidestepped
the question. If I gave him an approximate monetary figure he might start comparing that
with his contribution. How can I explain to my young friend that his selfless act of love
can not be expressed in financial terms?
This incident moved me deeply. As I looked at the collection
of coins I was reminded of King David's experience as he was engaged with the enemy, the
Philistines. At that time he was in a stronghold in the cave of Adullam.
One day David told his men that he longed for water from the
well near the gate of Bethlehem. The problem was that the Philistines had their garrison
in Bethlehem. In spite of that, three of David's elite group of thirty warriors defied
enemy ranks to fetch water from his desired source. However, when the men came back with
the water David was overwhelmed by their sacrificial act of courage; he refused to drink
it, instead he poured it out before the Lord.
In a way, when I consider what it takes for an
eight-year-old boy to gather a little fortune and then give it away I feel that what Frans
brought me is too valuable to spend. Thus I bring it before the Lord and offer praises to
His wonderful Name.
Dear friends, facing the daily challenge of progressive
paralysis is not an easy one but God has a way of communicating His presence and care even
in the valley of the shadow of death. Behind Frans's little hand I see the Lord's good
hand on me; one more reason to press on!
"Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days
of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever." (Psalm 23:6)
Have a blessed week further!
Pressing on!
In His love
Fano Sibisi
