My dear friends
These days I have been exercised by the theme of
thankfulness.
In my present physical condition of almost 100% paralysis I
could constantly lie under the willow tree and moan about everything Motor Neuron Disease
has deprived me of but once I start thinking about God's goodness my heart just melts. In
fact, I get overwhelmed as I realise how limited we humans are in our understanding of
God's ways with us. I see but only a minute fraction of what God is doing for me.
As my mind dwelt on these matters I kept hearing the
question repeated in the German song "Wo sind die neun?" (Where are the nine?)
Christ healed ten lepers but only one came back to thank Him. Where were the other nine?
Am I part of the 10% or the 90%.
Have I expressed gratitude towards my parents? Looking back,
I begin to appreciate some of the numerous sacrifices Dad and Mum made to satisfy our
needs. A picture that stands out is that of our sick father in the late 60s struggling to
stand up early in the morning to get to his taxi. Foremost in his thoughts as he dragged
himself must have been us.
After being happily married for over 25 years I ask myself
if I am taking my wife's love and loyalty for granted. Yes, I paid 'ilobolo' (bride price)
for her but I know that is not what has made her cling to me through thick and thin. The
glue that keeps us together is our shared fervent love for our Lord and Saviour and the
constant striving to walk with Him.
My paternal and maternal sides of the family, the Sibisis
and the Jilas, have played a big role in my life; I owe them a big 'Ngiyabonga' (Thank
you). How can I forget the simple childhood joys at Chibini and Ekhamanzi? There might not
have been plenty for a luxurious lifestyle but what they had, they shared.
Beyond the biological family though is my spiritual family,
God's household. Through the blood of Christ I was born into this blessed fellowship. Only
God knows how much His children have meant to me. I have gained precious grandfathers,
grandmothers, fathers, mothers, brothers, sons and daughters in different parts of the
world. As I count these blessings I am indeed surprised at what the Lord has done.
Having gone through different educational institutions,
faces keep coming up of teachers and lecturers who I am sure would appreciate hearing my
thank you for their contribution to my life.
In my involvement with Domino Servite School and Cedar
College of Education at KwaSizabantu Mission I came to understand something of the blood,
sweat and tears that the students' education cost their educators. Surely, some must have
come back to thank their teachers but could it be that the song is playing in the
background, "Wo sind die neun?"
"And Jesus answering said, Were there
not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?" (Luke 17:17)
Have a blessed weekend!
Pressing on!
In His love
Fano Sibisi
