Hoofstuk 8 “Omhels die Armoede”

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

—Matthew 5:3

 

“Salig is die wat arm van gees is,

want aan hulle behoort die koninkryk van die hemele."

—Matteus 5:3

 

Embracing the poverty—what does that mean? Does it only refer to money, like our finances? Or is this a principle or idea that transcends every area of our lives—embracing rather than running from lack?

Omvang die armoede—wat beteken dit? Verwys dit na geld, soos ons finansies? Of is dit ‘n beginsel of idee wat elke gebied van ons lewens transendeer—omvang eerder as om weg te hardloop van tekort?

In His Beatitudes Jesus said that those who lacked, like the poor, are those who are blessed—do you and I honestly believe that? We say we do, but very few of us come to that place of choosing to embrace this principle, so because it’s more acceptable, we choose, instead, to embrace the mindset of this world.

In Sy Saligsprekings het Jesus gesê dat die wie tekort het, soos die armes, is die wat geseën is—glo jy en ek dit eerlik? Ons sê ons doen, maar baie min van ons kom tot op daardie plek om te kies om hierdie beginsel te omvang, so omdat dit meer aanvaarbaar is, kies ons, in plaas darvan om die ingesteldheid van hierdie wêreld te omvang.

Let’s face it, it’s difficult for us to watch the “wicked” increase and prosper while at the same time we (who do all we can to serve and love the Lord as His bride in our hearts and actions)—sit in need and lack. This is when we have to decide if what we do is based and has its foundation on doing what’s right for the sake of right, or doing what is right for the sake of gain.

Kom ons wees eerlik, dit is moeilik vir ons om toe te kyk hoe die “bose” vermeerder en floreer terwyl ons op dieselfde tyd  (alles doen wat ons kan om die Here te dien en Hom lief te hê as Sy bruid in ons harte en aksies)—in behoefte en tekort sit.  Dit is wanneer ons moet besluit of wat ons doen gebaseer is en sy fondasie is om te doen wat reg is ter wille van reg , of doen wat reg is ter wille van vordering.  

Recently my children have also been struggling silently with this entire concept. Their father left our family in pursuit of sin—adultery once again. And since then they have had a front row seat watching their father continuing to “seemingly” prosper while we are currently struggling in very deep and dangerous lack. With tears, just the other day, my teenage daughter asked why it seems that God is blessing her dad for doing what was wrong, and at the same time punishing us for doing what was right.

Onlangs het my kinders ook gesukkel met hierdie hele konsep. Hulle pa het ons familie gelos om sonde agterna te sit—weereens owerspel. En sedertdien het hulle ‘n voorste ry sitplek waar hulle toekyk hoe dit “lyk” asof hulle pa floreer terwyl ons huidiglik in baie diep en gevaarlike tekort sukkel. Net die ander dag, het my tiener dogter in trane gevra hoekom dit lyk aof die Here haar pa seën deur te doen wat verkeerd was, en ons op dieselfde tyd straf deur te doen wat reg is. 

It often does seem like we are being punished, not just to we who are living through it, but to those who are watching our lives. Is God punishing us? I remember vividly living through these feelings several years ago. It was I who was in tears, lying on top of my bed holding my little six-year-old son (who’s now an adult) and he was crying, which is why I began to cry. Very much like Erin shares in one of her books, while I was doing everything I could to do what was right, for the sake of my children, I had just heard that his daddy, my husband, had taken the other woman on a trip to meet his family. Even worse, I also heard that his family had embraced his new relationship and the first OW (other woman) into their family. My six-year-old, however, didn’t know why his daddy was visiting family (or who he had taken with him), all he knew was that he had taken a trip and left him behind. Poor dear.

Dit lyk dikwels asof ons gestraf word, nie net deur ons wat daardeur lewe nie, maar vir die wat ons lewens dophou. Straf God ons? Ek onthou vaagweg hoe ek etlike jare terug deur hierdie gevoelens gelewe het. Dit was ek wat in trane was, en op my gebed gelê het en ons ses-jarige seun  (wie nou ‘n volwassene is) vasgehou het en hy was besig om te huil, en dit is waarom ek begin huil het. Baie soos wat Erin in een van haar boeke deel, terwyl ek alles probeer doen het wat reg was, vir my kinders se onthalwe, het ek pas gehoor dat sy pappa, my man, die ander vrou op ‘n reis geneem het om sy familie te ontmoet. Selfs erger, ek het ook gehoor dat sy familie sy nuwe verhouding en die eerste AV (ander vrou) in hulle familie omvang het. My ses-jarige, het nie geweet waarom hulle pappa familie besoek nie (of wie hy saamgeneem het nie), al wat hy geweet het was dat hy ‘n teis geneem het en hom agter gelaat het. Arme skat.   

It is so vivid in my mind how much of a catalyst this trip was to what changed everything (though I didn’t know it at the time). It was the beginning of the end for this ungodly relationship and for my marriage to be restored (which also meant my son’s daddy moving back home). Nevertheless, this event caused everything in my life to begin racing downhill. I don’t remember all of the details, but one-by-one my world began crashing down around me. I do remember my husband coming to visit me one day. We were separated (he’d left and was living with the first other woman), and he stood there telling me quite clearly that if this is the way God rewarded good people (referring to what was happening in my life), then why do what was right?

Dit is so vaag in my gedates hoeveel van ‘n kataliator hierdie toer was tot wat alles verander het (alhoewel ek dit nie destyd geweet het nie). Dit was die begin van die einde van hierdie ongoddelike verhouding en vir my huwelik om herstel te word (wat beteken het dat my seun se pappa terug getrek het huis toe). Nietemin, hierdie gebeurtenis het veroorsaak dat alles in my lewe begin afdraande jaag het. Ek onthou nie al die besonderhede nie, maar een-vir-een het my wêreld om my begin begin neerstort. Ek onthou dat my man my eendag kom besoek het. Ons was van mekaar vervreem (hy was weg en het by die eerste ander vrou gebly), en hy het daar gestaan en vir my heel duidelik gesê dat as dit die manier is hoe God goeie mense beloon het (met verwysing na wat in my lewe besig was om te gebeur), dan waarom doen wat reg is?

After he walked out of my darkened room, it was then I had to make a choice, and my choice was to embrace the poverty and lack for the sake of doing what was right. No matter what, I had to do what was right, what He said, and He said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” In the end, I was blessed and because of me choosing a path that was difficult (even crazy), and a life that those closest to me mocked, He blessed me and my children. We came through everything with a testimony that has helped encourage more people than I could count.

Nadat hy uit my donker kamer uitgeloop het, was dit toe dat ek ‘n keuse moes maak, en my keuse was om armoede en tekort te omvang om die onthalwe om te doen wat reg is. Maak nie saak wat nie, ek moes doen wat reg is, wat Hy gesê het, en Hy het gesê, “Geseënd is die wat weet hoe afhanklik hulle van God is.” Op die ou einde, was ek geseën en omdat ek ‘n pad gekies het wat moeilik was (selfs gek), en ‘n lewe wat die wat die naaste aan my was gespot het, Hy het vir my en my kinders geseën. Ons het deur alles gekom  met ‘n getuienis wat my gehelp het om meer mense aan te moedig as wat ek kon tel. 

Questions not Easy to Answer
Vrae Wat Nie Maklik Is Om Te Antwoord Nie

It was just last night that I once again found myself sitting with my other daughter who was facing the same questions as her brother had asked, “Why are we doing what is right when it seems as if it does no good, and that the opposite, doing what is wrong, achieves the real rewards?” Time and again she had opened her heart to her father, while he hurt and rejected her. Birthdays are always a time of vulnerability, and she had just been horribly hurt. In addition, she had been through quite a lot besides things with her father.

Dit was  net gisteraand wat ek myself weerens gevind het by my ouste dogter sit wat dieselfde vraag in die gesig gestaar het as wat haar broer gevra het, “Waarom doen ons wat reg is wanneer dit lyk asof dit niks goeds doen nie, en die teenoorgestelde, om te doen wat verkeerd is, bereik die regte belonings?” Keer op keer het sy haar hart vir haar pa oopgemaak, terwyl hy haar seergemaak en verwerp het. Verjaarsdae is altyd ‘n tyd van kwesbaarheid, en sy was pas aaklig seergemaak. Ter aanvulling, was sy deur nogal baie buiten die dinge met haar pa. 

Right then I had to make my choice, once again, to choose to embrace the poverty, even if it was only for the sake of doing what was right for the sake of doing right, because there was no way I wanted to envy wickedness. I chose, again, to embrace poverty—pulling it close to my heart. How was I going to answer my children’s questions?

Net daar moes ek my keuse maak, weereens, om te kies om die armoede te omvang, al was dit net vir die onthalwe om te doen wat reg was vir die nthalwe om reg te doen, omdat daar geen manier was wat ek afgunstig oor boosheid wou wees  nie. Ek het, weer, gekies om armoede te omvang—en dit na aan my hart getrek. Hoe sou ek my kinders se vrae beantwoord?

In doing what was right, by pulling the poverty close to my heart rather than rejecting it (as any mother may feel like doing), immediately my eyes saw everything in a totally new light! Even though my ex-husband (my daughters’ father) seems to “have it all”—financial security that our family now lacked, we had much, much, much more than money could ever buy. First, I told her, “I have you! I have your love, and the joy of being here with you, to comfort you. And it’s just not you who I have, or you having me. We have … [and I began to name each of her siblings].” Instantly, almost on cue, we heard the other children in the other room who were still at the dinner table, laughing and talking. It was then that we both realized, at that moment, that we were the ones who were rich—because we each had Him—as a loving Father and a new faithful Husband!

Deur te doen wat reg is, deur die armoede na aan my hart te trek eerder as om dit te verwerp (soos wat enige moeder mag lus voel om te doen), het my oë onmiddellik alles in ‘n nuwe lig gesien! Selfs al lyk dit asof my eks-man (my dogters se pa) dit “alles het”—finansiële sekuritiet wat ons familie nou tekort skiet, het ons baie, baie, baie meer gehad as wat geld ooit kon koop. Eerstens, ht ek vir haar gesê, “Ek het jou! Ek het jou liefde, en die vreugde om hier saam jou te wees, om jou te troos. En dit is nie net vir jou wat ek het nie, of jy wat vir my het nie. Ons het …[en ek het begin om elkeen van haar broers en susters op te noem].” Onmiddellik, net op die regte oomblik, het ons die ander kinders in die ander kamer gehoor wat stil was by die aandete tafel, lag en praat. Dit was toe dat ons albei besef het, op daardie oomblik, dat ons die was wat ryk was—omdat ons elkeen Hom gehad het—as ‘n liefdevolle Vader en ‘n  nuwe betroubare Man! 

Even if we lost our home, lost our entire income, lost our reputation, and every other physical security, it would never compare to what we had, and had gained, by embracing God’s choice for us— going through our situation of facing poverty. By facing the poverty, then choosing to embrace it, we found ourselves rich! We had discovered that the real wealth is not in what we thought we needed, but what is really important.

Selfs al het ons ons huis verloor, ons hele inkomste verloor, ons reputasie verloor het, en elke ander fisiese sekuriteit, sou dit nooit vergelyk met wat ons gehad het nie, en gewin het nie, deur God se keuse vir ons te omvang—deur ons situasie te gaan en armoede in die gesig te staar. Deur die armoede in die gesig te staar, en dan te verkies om dit te omvang het ons onsself ryk gevind! Ons het ontdek dat die ware rykdom is nie in wat ons gedink het ons nodig het nie, maar wat regtig belangrik is.

Dear one, if you are in a similar situation: you are looking intently at the poverty or lack that is before you with fear and trepidation—I understand. Right now, you may see that there is no way out if you move forward, and turning back looks so tempting. But let me encourage you to embrace your poverty no matter how terrifying it may seem. For as soon as you do, you will find, as I did, that the darkness it not at all terrifying like you once feared. As soon as you choose to embrace it, rather than run from it, I promise a small light will appear. And His light will be a beam allowing you to immediately see the truth clearly.

Liewe een, as jy in ‘n soortgelyke posisie is: kyk jy stip na die armoede of tekort wat voor jou is met vrees en angs—ek verstaan. Reg nou, mag jy sien dat daar geen manier uit is as jy vorentoe beweeg nie, en om terug te keer lyk so aanloklik. Maar laat my jou aanmoedig om jou armoede te omvang maak nie saak hoe skrikwekkend dit lyk nie. Want hoe vinniger jy dit doen, sal jy vind, soos ek het, dat die donkerte nie so skrikwekkend is as wat jy eens op ‘n tyd gevrees het nie. Sodra jy kies om dit te omvang, eerder as om weg te hardloop daarvoor, belowe ek sal ‘n klein lig verskyn. En sy lig sal ‘n bundel wees en jou toelaat om die waarheid duidelik te sien.  

Don’t run from poverty and lack—I promise that you don’t want to miss what is up ahead by turning back now!

Moet nie weghardloop van armoede en tekort nie—ek belowe dat jy nie wil mis wat vorentoe is deur nou terug te draai nie!

Also, precious one. If you have lost your family and everyone who you loved and who once loved you, please be sure you read the first two books in this series: Finding the Abundant Life and Living the Abundant Life. When you have His love, and His presence, I can assure you that your life will never feel empty and you’ll never ever feel alone ever again.

Ook, kosbare een. As jy familie en almal vir wie jy lief is en eens op ‘n tyd vir jou lief was verloor het, wees asseblief seker dat jy die eerste twee boeke in hierdie reeks lees: Vind die Oorvloedige Lewe en Leef die Oorvloedige Lewe. Wanneer jy Sy liefde het, en Sy teenwoordigheid, kan ek jou verseker dat jou lewe nooit leeg sal voel nie en dat jy nooit ooit weer alleen sal voel nie.  

My Eighth of Many Financial Testimonies
My Agste van Baie Getuienisse

“Fit for a Queen”
“Gepas vir ‘n Koningin”

Let me tell you that once you get a hold of the power of giving, you just get so excited to see where your next opportunity lies! The sweetest opportunity to give out of my lack, thus far, occurred on my daughter’s 15^th birthday—her heavenly Father chose to bless her socks off!!

Laat my jou vertel dat sodra jy die krag van gee beet gekry het, word jy so opgewonde net om te sien waar jou volgende geleentheid lê! Sover, die lieflikste geleentheid om uit my tekort te gee,  het op my dogter se 15de verjaardag gebeur—hemelse Man het gekies om haar sokkies af te seën!!  

Honestly I am not sure how it all came about, but it has been the desires of my heart since moving into our new home (before my husband left) to replace each of our old bunk beds, each with queen size beds. My reason is that they are large enough for a married couple to sleep on, and are also good for sleepovers. A king size is too large for most rooms, and the queen size sheets and comforters seem to be the size that I frequently find on sale.

Eerlikwaar ek is nie seker hoe dit alles gebeur het nie, maar dit was die begeertes van my hart vandat ons in ons nuwe huis ingetrek het (voor my man weg is) om elkeen van ons ou stapelbeddens te vervang, elkeen met koningin beddens. My rede is dat hulle groot genoeg is vir ‘n getroude paartjie om op te slaap, en is ook goed vir wanneer iemand oorslaap. ‘n Konings grotte is vir meeste kamers te groot, en die koningin grootte lakens en gestikte komberse lyk asof dit die grootte is wat ek gereeld op winskopie vind.

So in moving the rooms around when my son left, my daughter was getting her own room for the first time in her life, and I just knew that her Father was about to bless her tremendously. I had watched how she handled and blessed her cousin who lived with us for a year: always giving, apologizing for everything that went wrong and taking the full blame or responsibility even though she was younger and normally nothing was her fault. My daughter said she wanted to because she said, “I have been a Christian much longer Mom.” [My niece had asked about many things when she lived with us, and as a result accepted the Lord—the first in her family to become a Believer!]

So toe ons die kamers rondgeskuif het toe my seun weg is, het my dogter vir die eerste keer in haar lewe haar eie kamer gehad, ek het net geweet dat haar Vader op die punt was om ons geweldig te seën. Ek het toegekyk hoe sy haar niggie wie vir ‘n jaar by ons gebly het hanteer en geseën het: altyd gegee het en om verskoning gevra het vir alles wat verkeerd gegaan het en die volle verantwoordelikheid te neem alhoewel sy jonger was en normaalweg was alles haar skuld. My dogter het gesê dat sy wou omdat sy gesê het, “ek is baie langer ‘n Christen Mamma.” [My broerskind het oor baie dinge uitgevra toe sy by ons gebly het en as gevolg daarvan het sy die Here aanvaar—die eerste in haar familie om ‘n Gelowige te word!]  

My daughter has not only given to her cousin, but she has looked for opportunities to bless others, it seems like thousands of times over the past two years. Prior to focusing on her cousin, she had been concentrating on giving to her older sister, since her older sister had been going through a very tough time with what happened with her dad. So, just like with her cousin, even though she was younger, when anything happened with her older sister, she took and continues to take full responsibility when something negative happens, which is undoubtedly due to her heart and passion for the Lord. Time and again I told her that she couldn’t give like that without her Father blessing her double (and with a good attitude ten times over), each time I saw she was again giving to others.

My dogter het nie net vir haar niggie gegee nie, maar sy het vir geleenthede gesoek om ander te seën, dit voel soos duisende kere oor die afgelope twee jaar. Voordat sy op haar niggie gefokus het, het sy daarop konsentreer om vir haar ouer suster te gee, aangesien haar ouers suster deur ‘n rowwe tyd gegaan het met wat met haar pa gebeur het. So, net soos met haar niggie, alhoewel sy jonger was, wanneer enigiets met haar ouers suster gebeur het, neem sy en gaan sy voort om volle veerantwoordelikhid te neem wanneer iets negatiefs gebeur, wat ongetwyfeld is as gevolg van haar hart en deernis vir die Here. Keer op keer het ek vir haar gesê dat sy nie so kon gee sonder dat haar Vader haar dubbeld sou seën nie (en met ‘n goeie houding tien keer oor), elke keer het ek gesien dat sy weer vir ander gee.

God chose her birthday to bless her—He showed up right in the midst of another trial, which is so like a loving Father would!

God het haar verjaardag gekies om haar te seën—Hy het in die middel van nog ‘n beproewing opgedaag, wat is net soos ‘n liefdevolle Vader sou!

The day her dad was coming to get her to take her away from home for a two-week visit with him and the woman he was living with (something that she was really struggling with, but had surrendered to the Lord), she and I went out looking for a bed for her. We seemed to go everywhere, but nothing was falling into place. After many stops, I sat there in the car and told her that I didn’t want to force a blessing, and when it is from the Lord things just fall into place and He blesses us beyond words. Bless her heart, she agreed and said she could wait. That’s when the blessing immediately began to materialize!

Die dag toe haar pa gekom het om haar weg van die huis af te neem vir ‘n twee-weke besoek saam hom en die vrou by wie hy gebly het (iets waarmee sy regtig gesukkel het, maar aan die Here oorgegee het), het ek en sy uitgegaan om vir ‘n bed vir haar te soek. Dit het gelyk asof ons oral gegaan het , maar niks was besig om in plek te val nie. Na baie plekke, het ek in die motor gesit en gesê dat ek nie ‘n seën wou forseer nie, een wanneer dit van die Here is val dinge net in plek en seën Hy ons verby woorde. Seën haar hart, sy het ingestem en gesê sy kon wag. Dit is toe dat die seëninge onmiddellik begin het om te materialiseer!

While driving home I turned onto a side street to avoid traffic, and spotted a warehouse furniture store. I found out later that the owners and manager are close friends of my son’s fiancé’s parents. When the manager asked if he could help, I told him exactly what I wanted to pay for a pillow-top mattress and box spring—and he sold it to me for the price I quoted! Let me tell you that that the price I said I wanted to pay and what I paid for it was ridiculous! I couldn’t believe that I said what I said. But, immediately, I knew my Husband was about to do something wonderfully loving!!

Toe ek oppad huis toe was het ek in ‘n systraaitjie afgedraai om die verkeer te verhoed, en ‘n pakhuis meubel winkel gesien. Ek het later gevind dat die eienaars en bestuurders intieme vriende van my seun se verloofde se ouers was. Toe die bestuurder gevra het of hy kon help, het ek presies vir hom gesê wat ek vir ‘n kussingmatras en boks veer wou betaal—en hy het dit aan my verkoop vir die prys wat ek aangehaal het! Laat my jou vertel dat die prys wat ek wou betaal het was belaglik! Ek kon nie glo dat ek gesê het wat ek gesê het nie. Maar, onmiddellik het ek geweet dat my Man op die punt gestaan het om iets wonderbaarlik liefdevol te doen!!

Next, I asked if he had a headboard and he pointed to two. My daughter was drawn to the darker one, and then the man suddenly said he remembered something, and led us to a backroom, pointing to the headboard of her dreams!! She said it was exactly what she had always wanted! When I asked the price, he gave it to me for nothing!!

Volgende, het ek gevra of hy ‘n koppenent gehad het en hy het twee uitgewys. My dogter was tot die donker een aangtrokke, en die man het gesê dat hy skielik iets onthou het, en ons na ‘n agter kamer toe gelei, en die koppenent van haar drome uitgewys!! Sy het gesê dit was presies  wat sy altyd wou ghad het! Toe ek vra wat die prys is, het hy dit vir my gratis gegee!! 

The next day after we celebrated her birthday and we even splurged and had lunch out, we all headed back to our home, but a few of us had a couple of errands to run. I had no idea where I was going, or why, but the Lord led me to a store where He first reminded me that I promised to pick up something for my son (isn’t HE just so good??). While there, while talking on my cell phone, I found myself standing in front of the most gorgeous comforter set!! It had decorative pillows similar to what we had looked at the day before.

Die volgende dag het ons haar verjaardag gevier en ons het selfs verkwis en middagete uitgeeet, ons het almal weer na ons huis toe versit, maar ‘n paar van ons het ‘n paar takies gehad om te verrig. Ek het geen idee gehad waarheen ek oppad was nie, of waarom, maar die Here het my na ‘n winkel toe gelei waar Hy my eers herinner het dat ek blowe het om iets vir my seun op te tel (is HY nie net so goed nie??). Terwyl ek daar was, terwyl ek op my selfoon gepraat het, het ek myself voor die mees pragtigste stikkombers stel gesien staan!! Dit het dekoratiewe kussings eenders as waarna ons die dag vantevore gekyk het gehad.

My son and his fiancé (who are both known for their good taste and impeccable style) just “happened to be” in the same store, so to be sure that these were, in fact, “in style” I headed toward where they said they were. As soon as I turned the corner, my son’s fiancé was in awe at how gorgeous the comforter set was while my daughter could hear her say how gorgeous it was (since she was on the phone with me). My daughter said she just asked her dad if he would buy a comforter for her, and he said, yes, but adding it was way more than he gave for birthdays. So seeing the opportunity, I said whatever he didn’t pay, I would. When her dad heard that, he said he would pay it all!! Oh, the joy of being married to my Husband whose resources are endless!!

My seun en sy verloofde (wie albei bekend is vir hulle goeie smaak en onberispelike styl) was net “per toeval” in dieselfde winkel, so om seker te wees dat dit “in styl” was het ek oorgeloop na waar hulle gesê het hulle was. Toe ek om die hoek gegaan het, was my seun se verloofde in ontsag oor hoe pragtig die stikkombers stel was terwyl my dogter kon hoor hoe sy sê hoe pragtig dit was (aangesien sy op die selfoon met my was). My dogter het gesê sy het haar pa gevra of hy ‘n stikkombers vir haar sou koop, en hy het ja gesê, maar bygevoeg dat dit meer was as wat hy vir verjaarsdae gegee het. So toe ek die geleentheid sien, het ek gesê wat ookal hy nie kon betaal nie, sou ek betaal. Toe haar pa dit hoor het hy gesê hy sou alles betaal!! O, die vreugde om met my Man getroud te wees wie se hulpbronne eindeloos is!!   

**Remember, whenever there is injustice, God promises double. Divorce is an injustice to the children, so I always tell my children to anticipate double rather than worry about the apparent destruction.

**Onthou wanneer daar onregverdigheid is, belowe God dubbel. Egskeiding is onregverdig op die kinders, so ek vertel altyd my kinders om dubbel te verwag eerder as om bekommerd te wees oor die klaarblyklike verwoesting.

During the two weeks that my younger children were visiting their dad, the older children painted my daughter’s bedroom room, and her bathroom! After her bedroom was dry, my sons moved the new furniture in. Then the Lord orchestrated new curtains, sheets, comforter, pillows, and even a new dresser through the gifts of other family members along with added money from her savings account for babysitting. In about eight hours, this precious girl who has been through so so much, and who did it with such a tender heart, is going to walk into a new bedroom that you would see on a television designer show. It’s honestly beyond anything that I have ever seen in a magazine—and it is all for her!

Gedurende die twee weke wat my jonger kinders hulle pa besoek het, het die ouer kinders my dogter se kamer geverf, en haar badkamer! Nadat haar slaapkamer droog was, het my seuns die nuwe meubels ingeskuif. Toe het die Here nuwe gordyne, lakens, stikkomberse, kussings, en selfs ‘n nuwe kas deur die geskenke van haar familielede saam met bykomende geld uit haar spaarrekening vir babas oppas. In omtrent agt uur, sal hierdie kosbare meisie wie deur so so baie is, en wie dit met so’n teer hart gedoen het, in ‘n nuwe slaapkamer in loop wat jy op ‘n televisie ontwerpers program sou sien. Dit is eerlik bo enigiets wat ek al ooit in ‘n tydskrif gesien het—en dit is alles vir haar! 

Her Father wants her to remember each night when she goes to bed and each morning when she wakes up, just how much He loves her, protects her, and cherishes her—in her new room—now, fit for a queen.

Haar Vader wil hê sy moet elke aand wanneer sy bed toe gaaan en elke oggend wanneer sy wakker word, onthou net hoe lief Hy haar het, haar beskerm, en haar koester—in haar nuwe kamer—nou, gepas vir ‘n koningin.