My Eerste Liefde “Nader as ‘n Broer”

Nader as ‘n Broer
“My Eerste Liefde”

When growing up, Erin desperately wanted to be a nun because she heard nuns were “married to God.” Deep in her heart, there was a longing she couldn’t understand until she was much older. Very soon, however, Erin changed her mind the instant she discovered nuns had no children of their own.

Toe Erin groot geword het, wou sy desperaat ‘n non word omdat sy gehoor het dat nonne “met God getroud was.” Diep in haar hart was daar ‘n hunkering wat sy nie kon verstaan totdat sy baie ouer was nie. Nietemin het Erin, baie gou, van plan verander die oomblik wat sy ontdek het dat nonne nie kinders van hulle eie gehad het nie.

Erin absolutely loved babies. She loved to make them laugh, to see them smile and giggle when she crawled after them across the floor. Erin played with baby dolls long after she was considered too old to play with dolls. Her favorite game was pretending her baby dolls were all her own babies. Did you know that God said, "Children are a gift from God... a reward!" Erin not only loved babies but she loved gifts and rewards, don’t you?!

Erin was absoluut dol oor babas. Sy was lief daarvoor om hulle te maak lag, om hulle te sien glimlag en giggel toe sy agter hulle aan op die vloer gekruip het. Erin het met baba poppe gespeel lank na sy te oud was om met poppe te speel. Haar gunsteling speletjie was om voor te gee dat haar poppe al haar eie babas was. Het jy geweet dat God gesê het, “Kinders is ‘n geskenk van die Here…’n beloning!” Erin was nie net lief vir babas nie maar sy was lief vir geskenke en belonings, doen jy nie?

Yet, as much as she loved babies and wanted to have a house full of her own children, Erin still had this deep down longing to feel closer to God. Her love for Him began the day she discovered He wanted to be her Best Friend.

Tog, alhoewel sy lief was vir babas en ‘n huis vol van haar eie kinders, wou gehad het, het Erin nog steeds hierdie diep hunkering gehad om nader aan die Here te voel. Haar liefde vir Hom het die dag begin wat sy ontdek het dat Hy haar Beste Vriend wou gewees het.      

FBF “Forever Best Friend”
VEBV “Vir Ewig Beste Vriend”

Like most blessings, Erin discovered her Forever Best Friend in the midst of a crisis. Erin and her older brother went to a private school on the other side of the Hollywood Hills where her family lived. Erin’s brother was four years older and was responsible to take her home. Early in the morning, they were dropped off at school by their dad who worked in the television and movie industry, but it was Erin’s brother, Adrian, who took her home from school each day on the public bus. But on this fateful day, Adrian bribed her with enough money to buy a mile-high ice cream cone if she would go home on the bus by herself.

Soos meeste seëninge, het Erin haar Vir Ewig Beste Vriend ten midde van ‘n krisis ontdek. Erin en haar ouer broer het na ‘n privaat skool aan die ander kant van Hollywood Hills waar haar familie gewoon het gegaan. Erin se broer was vier jaar ouer en was verantwoordelik om haar huis toe te neem. Vroeg in die oggend, was hulle by die skool afgelaai deur hulle vader wat in die televisie en filmbedryf gewerk het, maar dit was Erin se broer, Adrian, wie haar elke dag na skool op die publieke bus huis toe gevat het. Maar op hierdie noodlottige dag, het Adrian haar met genoeg geld omgekoop om ‘n myl-hoë roomys te koop as sy by haarself op die bus huis toe sou gaan.   

Adrian quizzed her over and over to make sure she knew the name and number of both public buses Erin needed to take. He asked her how much money for each bus, to be sure to remember to ask for a transfer on the first bus, and where to get off to change buses. Erin, who was just in first grade was too young to understand the danger so she smiled happily, agreeing excitedly, patting all the coins in her tiny blue uniform pocket for the bus fare and her ice cream.

Adrian het haar oor en oor vas gevra om seker te maak dat sy die nommer van beide die publieke busse geken het wat Erin nodig gehad het om te neem. Hy het haar gevra hoeveel geld vir elke bus, om seker te maak om vir ‘n oorplasing te vra op die eerste bus, en waar om af te klim om busse te verander. Erin, wie net in die eerste graad was was te jonk om die gevaar te verstaan so sy het bly geglimlag, en opgewonde ingestem, en haar muntstukke vir die busgeld en roomys in haar klein blou uniform sak getik.     

While waiting on the corner, Erin got a bit scared because she was confused as she waited for her first bus. So many buses stopped and opened their doors before she read the right name and the correct number. But as soon as the right bus came and she put her coins into the farebox and got her transfer that folded tightly stuffing it into her tiny pocket, she smiled and took a seat. All she could think about was ordering her strawberry mile-high ice cream cone!

Terwyl sy op die hoek gewag het, het Erin bang geraak omdat sy verward was soos wat sy vir haar eerste bus gewag het. So baie busse het gestop en die deure oop gemaak voordat sy die regte naam en die korrekte nommer gelees het. Maar toe die regte bus gekom het en sy haar muntstukke in die kassie gegooi het en haar oorplasing gekry het en styf opgevou het en in haar klein sak gestop het, het sy geglimlag en gaan sit. Al waaraan sy kon dink ws om haar myl-hoë roomyshorinkie te bestel. 

Just as the bus passed the famous Chinese Theater where everyone was taking pictures, standing in the movie star’s footprints and on their knees with their hands in their handprints, she jumped up and excitedly pulled the cord to let the bus driver know she wanted to get off at the next stop. Erin knew she didn’t need to pull the cord, her brother always told her this was the busiest corner in all of Hollywood (maybe the whole world!) and why he held her hand after they got off.

Net toe die bus verby die bekende Chinese Teater gegaan het waar almal besig was om foto's te neem, en in die filmsterre se voetspore gestaan het en op hulle knieë met hulle hande in hulle handdrukke, het sy opgespring en opgewonde die koord getrek om die busdrywer te laat weet dat sy by die volgende stop wou afklim. Erin het geweet dat sy nie nodig gehad het om die koord te trek nie, haar broer het vir haar gesê dit was die besigste hoek in die hele Hollywood (miskien die hele wêreld!) en waarom hy haar hand vasgehou het na hulle afgeklim het.

That day no one held Erin’s hand. She stood at the exit before the bus stopped and was the first one off the bus. At the corner, she waited for a green light and crossed the street heading for the corner soda fountain. She handed the man her money and ordered a strawberry mile-high ice cream cone. Delighted, she sat down to read the comic books, forgetting she needed to watch the time. All of a sudden she remembered and her heart started pounding. As Erin rushed outside, she looked up to see the clock on the bank and the time was the exact time when the bus would leave! Then to her horror, she saw where she should have been waiting, and there was her bus—slowly pulling away!

Daardie dag het niemand Erin se hand vasgehou nie. Sy het by die uitgang gestaan voor die bus gestop het en was die eerste een om van die bus af te klim. Op die hoek, het sy vir ‘n groen lig gwag en oor die straat gestap oppad na die hoek soda fontein. Sy het vir die man haar geld oorgehandig en ‘n aarbei myl-hoë roomyshorinkie bestel. Verheug, het sy gaan sit om die komedie boeke te lees, en vergeet dat sy die tyd moes dophou. Ewe skielik het sy onthou en haar hart het begin klop. Soos wat Erin buite toe gehaas het, het sy op gekyk om die horlosie op die bank te sien en die tyd was die presiese tyd wanneer die bus sou vertrek! Toe tot haar gruwel, het sy gesien waar sy behoort te gewag het, en daar was haar bus besig om—stadig weg te trek!     

This happened once before when Adrian was joking around with his friends. So Erin knew the next bus going into the Valley wouldn’t come for another hour, so she crossed the street to her bus stop, then went into the bank. Erin and Adrian loved to play in the bank when their mom went down into the basement to the giant vault to put important papers in or take important papers out. They’d ride the elevator up and down. They’d go to the top of the stairs, then sit down and slide down on the marble stairs that curved, taking them to the lobby.

Dit het eenkeer vantevore gebeur toe Adrian met sy vriende rond gegrap het. So Erin het geweet dat die volgende bus wat in die Vallei gaan nie vir nog ‘n uur sou kom nie, so sy het oor die straat geloop na haar busstop toe, en toe in die bank in gegaan. Erin en Adrian het daarvan gehou om in die bank te speel wanneer hulle ma onder in die kelder ingegaan het om in die reuse kluis belangrike papiere in te sit of belangrike papiere uit te haal. Hulle sou die hysbak op en af ry. Hulle sou na die boonste trappe toe gaan, en dan gaan sit en by die marmer trappe wat geboë was afgly, wat hulle na die voorportaal geneem het.

Playing inside was another mistake—it caused Erin to miss the next bus and the bus after that.

Om binne te speel was nog ‘n fout—dit het veroorsaak dat Erin die volgende bus en die bus daarna mis.

By the time Erin got on her bus to get home, it was getting dark. Being on a bus when it was light inside but dark outside frightened Erin. She was sure she’d miss her stop. So even though there were dozens of stops before they’d reach her street, Erin began cupping her hands to peer out the window watching for her stop.

Teen die tyd wat Erin op haar bus geklim het om by die huis te kom, was dit besig om donker te word. Om op ‘n bus te wees wanneer dit lig binne en donker buite is het vir Erin bang gemaak. Sy was seker sy sou haar stop mis. So alhoewel daar dosyne stoppe  was voor hulle haar straat bereik het, het Erin haar handjies bak gemaak om uit die venster te kyk en te wag vir haar stop.

Almost an hour later, after she passed the Party Shop where she stole something and got caught, Erin was relieved to get off and cross the street. But this is when she was the most frightened! There were no streetlights on her block. Erin began by walking up the street but soon she started to run to get home where she would feel safe again.

Amper ‘n uur later, nadat sy die Partytjie Winkel verby gegaan het waar sy iets gesteel het en gevang was, was Erin verlig om af te klim en oor die straat te loop. Maar dit is waar sy die mees bang was! Daar was geen straat ligte op haar blok nie. Erin het begin deur die straat op te loop maar sy het vinnig begin hardloop om by die huis te kom waar sy weer veilig sou gevoel het.   

Now crying, very sure that her brother would be in a lot of trouble for not taking her home. As she walked into the kitchen, she heard her mother call out, “Hurry and take your uniform off, Erin, dinner is almost ready.” Sobbing she told her mother that Adrian had made her come home on the bus alone!! Erin’s mom, still stirring the spaghetti sauce, turned and smiled at her, “But look what a big girl you are, Erin, you made it home just fine.”

Nou huilend, baie seker dat haar broer in groot moeilikheid sou wees omdat hy haar nie huis toe geneem het nie. Soos wat sy in die kombuis ingeloop het, het sy haar moeder hoor uitroep, “Maak gou en trek jou uniform uit, Erin, aandete is amper gereed. “Snikkend het sy vir haar moeder gesê dat Adrian haar gemaak het alleen op die bus huis toe kom!! Erin se ma, nog steeds besig om die spaghetti sous te roer, het omgedraai en vir haar geglimlag, maar kyk watse groot meisie is jy, Erin, jy het doodreg by die huis gekom.  

All Things for Good
Alle Dinge ten Goede

How could God let this happen? Erin knew God loved her, so why did this happen? Why do bad things happen?

Hoe kon God dit laat gebeur? Erin het geweet dat God lief was vir haar, so waarom het dit gebeur? Waarom gebeur slegte dinge?

Would you believe that what happened was all God’s plan? It’s true. God used this and every difficulty in Erin’s life for GOOD. God allowed this crisis to happen in order to prepare Erin for her future and even her children’s future. It’s the same with you!!

Sou jy glo dat wat gebeur het was alles God se plan? Dit is waar. God het dit en elke moeilikheid in Erin se lewe ten GOEDE gebruik. God het toegelaat vir hierdie krisis om te gebeur om Erin vir haar en selfs haar kinders se toekoms voor te berei. Dit is dieselfde met jou!!

That night, as she lay in bed, Erin realized no one can be with her all the time. There was no one to guide or protect her or make her feel safe all the time. Erin knew her mother loved her but her mother hadn’t understood and she couldn’t always be with her.

Daardie aand, soos wat sy in die bed gelê het, het Erin besef dat niemand die heeltyd by haar kan wees nie. Daar was niemand om haar te lei of beskerm nie of haar veilig te maak voel al die tyd nie. Erin het geweet dat haar moeder lief was vir haar maar haar moeder het nie verstaan nie en sy kon nie altyd saam met haar wees nie.

Erin had lots of older siblings but none could hold her hand to make her feel safe and not miss another bus. That night Erin longed for a brother, a mother, a friend—Someone who would be with her all the time. Someone who would never forsake or abandon, or desert her. Someone who understood. Does this sound like Someone you would want to meet, Someone you would want to know?

Erin het baie ouer broers en susters gehad maar niemand kon haar hand vashou om haar veilig te laat voel en nie nog ‘n bus mis nie. Daardie aand het Erin gehunker na ‘n broer, ‘n moeder, ‘n vriend—Iemand wat die heeltyd by haar sou wees. Iemand wat haar nooit sou verlaat nie of nooit in die steek sou laat nie, of versaak nie. Iemand wat verstaan. Klink dit soos iemand wat jy sou wou ontmoet, iemand wat jy sou wou ken? 

His Princess
Sy Prinses

Erin rode the bus alone a couple more times that year before summer vacation. And even though she’d learned her lesson to not spend time anywhere else but at the bus stop, the fear of being alone still gripped and frightened her.

Erin het voor die somer vakansie die bus nog ‘n paar keer alleen gery. Alhoewel sy haar les geleer het om nie tyd êrens ander as by die busstop te spandeer nie, het die vrees van  alleen wees haar nog steeds aangegryp en bang gemaak.

Then, at God’s appointed time Erin became His Princess, never to be alone again, something life-changing that happened at the beginning of the following year.

Toe, op God se bepaalde tyd het Erin Sy Prinses geword, om nooit weer alleen te wees nie, iets lewens-veranderd wat die begin van die volgende jaar gebeur het.

Erin’s favorite nun was who God sent to prepare her and her classmates for their First Holy Communion. Even more important was preparing for her first confession. The nun who God chose was raised a Baptist and Erin was about to meet her Prince! The Prince of Peace. The Best Friend she wanted and needed Who would be with her always. The Son of God who Erin fell in love with.

Erin se gunsteling non was wie God gestuur het om haar en haar klasmaats voor te berei vir hulle eerste Heilige Nagmaal. Selfs meer belangrik was om vir haar eerste belydenis voor te berei. Die non wat God gekies het was as ‘n Baptis groot gemaak en Erin was op die punt om haar Prins! Die Prins van Vrede te ontmoet. Die Beste Vriend wat sy wou gehad het en nodig gehad het Wie altyd by haar sou wees. Die Seun van God op wie Erin verlief geraak het.   

All her life, Erin would have Someone who would guide her “He leads me” and protect her and make her feel safe no matter where in the world He would (someday) take her. God causes everything to happen for good so she would meet that Someone who would never forsake, abandon, or desert her. Someone who understood.

Haar hele lewe, sou Erin iemand hê wat haar sou lei “Hy lei my” en haar beskerm en haar veilig laat voel maak nie saak waar in die wêreld Hy haar (eendag) sou neem nie. God laat alles ten goede meewerk so sy sou daardie Iemand ontmoet wie haar nooit in die steek sou laat en nooit alleen laat nie, of verlaat nie. Iemand wat verstaan. 

It happened when the nun explained that even though there was a priest in the confessional, to imagine that they were speaking to God Himself, confessing everything to Him. Confess everything they'd ever done wrong right there in the church pew. So while kneeling quietly in the dark church, Erin confessed everything to God beginning with how she wanted her brother punished for making her go home alone. For stealing something in the Party Shop and all the times she talked in class when it was forbidden.

Dit het gebeur toe die non verduidelik het dat alhoewel daar ‘n priester in die biegstoel was, om jou te verbeel dat jy met God Homself praat, en alles aan Hom bely. Bely alles wat hulle al ooit verkeerd gedoen het reg daar in die kerk bankie. So terwyl sy stil in die donker kerk gekniel het, het Erin alles aan God bely en begin hoe sy wou gehad het dat haar broer gestraf moet word omdat hy haar alleen maak huis toe gaan het. Omdat sy iets in die Partytjie Winkel gesteel het en al die tye wat sy in die kerk gepraat het toe dit verbode was.

After Erin finished she immediately felt wonderfully different!! Tears of joy began running down her cheeks. The nun saw her and gave her a hug. But the hug she felt was inside and she knew it was from Him.  Erin was happier than she ever felt in her life. Erin felt lighter, happier, safer, and peaceful.

Nadat Erin klaar was het sy onmiddellik wonderbaarlik anders gevoel!! Trane van vreugde het by haar wange afgerol. Die non het haar gesien en vir haar ‘n drukkie gegee. Maar die drukkie wat sy gevoel het was binne en sy het geweet dit was van Hom af. Erin was gelukkiger as wat sy ooit in haar lewe gevoel het. Erin het ligter, gelukkiger, veiliger, en vreedsaam gevoel.

Erin’s name actually means peace, but she never felt peaceful. Not like this peace. It was like it surpassed all understanding.

Erin se naam beteken eintlik vrede, maar sy het nooit vreedsaam gevoel nie. Nie soos hierdie vrede nie. Dit was asof dit alle verstand te bowe gegaan het. 

After a few minutes, while everyone visited the priest (the part Erin didn’t like and learned later was unnecessary), the nun passed around “unconsecrated” hosts said to be the body of Christ. Then in a very quiet voice, she said, "Now it's time to ask the Lord into your heart because your hearts are now clean." She said, "Ask Him to come in and live there, in your heart, giving your life and your future to Him." Bowing her head again, Erin asked Him to live in her heart and at that moment she changed instantly and radically.

Na ‘n paar minute, terwyl almal die priester besoek het (die deel waarvan Erin nie gehou het nie en later geleer het was onnodig), het die non die “ ongewyde” gashere wat die liggaam van Christus is aangegee. Toe in ‘n baie stil stem, het sy gesê, “Nou is dit tyd om die Here in jou hart in te vra omdat julle harte nou skoon is.” Sy het gesê, “Vra Hom om in te kom en daar te kom woon, in jou hart, en jou lewe en jou toekoms vir Hom te gee.” Erin het haar kop weer gebuig en Hom gevra om in haar hart te woon en op daardie oomblik het sy onmiddellik en radikaal verander.   

Erin didn’t need any more religion, nor do you. We want and need a relationship with our Creator. Religion isn’t bad or wrong as long as it doesn’t get in the way of a relationship that isn’t earned but given freely.

Erin het nie nog godsdiens nodig gehad nie, nog minder doen jy. Ons wil en benodig ‘n verhouding met ons Skepper. Godsdiens is nie sleg of verkeerd nie solank dit nie in die pad kom van ‘n verhouding wat nie verdien word nie maar wat vrylik gegee is.

The change in Erin was so profound that her parents believed it was the Catholic school she went to. They said that to everyone who asked “What’s gotten into Erin? She’s not that rambunctious, naughty little girl that used to give you so much trouble.” They believed it was the strict school and the nuns who had changed her. In a way they were right, it was a nun who introduced Erin to find forgiveness and ask the Lord to live in her heart.

Die verandering in Erin was so diepgaande dat haar ouers geglo het dat dit die Katolieke skool was waarnatoe sy gegaan het. Hulle het vir almal gesê wat gevra het “Wat het in Erin gevaar?” Sy is nie meer daardie ontstuimige, stout klein dogtertjie wat jou soveel moeilikheid gegee het nie.” Hulle het geglo dat dit die streng skool was en die nonne wat haar verander het. Op ‘n manier was hulle reg, dit was ‘n non wat Erin voorgestel het om vergifnis te vind en die Here te vra om in haar hart te woon. 

From that day on, Erin was never the same. That year the Lord became Erin’s FBF Forever Best Friend. Due to the way God orchestrated Erin’s life, just like many people in the Bible, and maybe just like YOUR life too—Erin’s life was separated and she was set apart—separate and set apart from just about everyone.

Van daardie dag af, was Erin nooit weer dieselfde nie. Daardie jaar het die Here Erin se VEBV Vir Ewig Beste Vriend geword. As gevolg van die manier wat God Erin se lewe orkestreer het, net soos baie mense in die Bybel, en miskien net soos JOU lewe ook—was Erin se lewe separaat en sy was afgesonder—en afgesonder van net omtrent almal. 

Set Apart for His Good Use
Afgesonder vir Sy Goeie Gebruik

All three of Erin’s brothers were much older, and because she was a tomboy, Erin’s sisters wanted nothing to do with her.

Al drie van Erin se boers was baie ouer as sy, en omdat sy ‘n rabbedoe was, wou Erin se susters niks met haar te doen gehad het nie. 

Erin had no school friends either. Living in the Valley, but attending school in Hollywood and as you just read, which took over an hour to get home on the public bus, Erin couldn’t play after school and make friends with the other children like everyone else. And because it was a very strict Catholic school, there was almost no interaction during school. Even while having lunch Erin had to sit at her desk and was forbidden to talk, which is why she had to confess this to the Lord.

Erin het ook nie skoolvriende gehad nie. Deur in die Vallei te woon, maar skool in Hollywood by te woon en net soos wat jy gelees het, wat oor ‘n uur geneem het om op die publieke bus by die huis te kom, kon Erin nie na skool speel en vriende met die ander kinders maak soos enigiemand anders. En omdat dit ‘n baie streng Katolieke skool was, was daar amper geen interaksie gedurende skool nie. Selfs tydens middagete moes Erin by haar lessenaar sit en was verbode om te praat, wat is waarom sy dit aan die Here moes bieg.   

Much of Erin’s aloneness had to do with being a tomboy, as was mentioned earlier. It meant she never had any close girlfriends. On top of that, talking on the phone to classmates was not possible because back then— it was called a "long-distance" call and it was very expensive.

Baie van Erin se alleenheid het te doen gehad met die feit dat sy ‘n rabbedoe was, soos vroeër genoem. Dit het beteken dat sy nooit enige intieme vriendinne gehad het nie. Boonop, was om op die telefoon met klasmaats te praat nie moontlik nie omdat destyds—was dit ‘n “lang-afstand” oproep genoem en was baie duur.

In Erin’s neighborhood, all the other children were much younger, and during any other activities, like the ballet she took, and later as a swimmer, Erin was set apart from all of her friends due to living in cities far from where she lived. SO, this meant that for most of her childhood Erin had only ONE faithful close friend, her Forever Best Friend who went with her everywhere! Someone she could talk to. Someone who listened. Someone who understood. So even though she was alone—Erin was never again lonely.

In Erin se woonbuurt, was al die ander kinders baie jonger, en gedurende enige ander aktiwiteite, soos die ballet wat sy geneem het, en later as ‘n swemmer, was Erin afgesonder van al haar vriende omdat hulle in stede gewoon het wat ver was van waar sy gebly het. SO, dit het beteken dat vir meeste van haar kinderdae het Erin net EEN getroue intieme vriend gehad, haar Vir Ewige Beste Vriend wie orals saam haar gegaan het! Iemand met wie sy kon praat. Iemand wat geluister het. Iemand wat verstaan het. So alhoewel sy alleen was—was Erin nooit weer eensaam nie. 

What About You?
Wat Van Jou?

Do you ever feel alone? Has God set you apart for something special? For such a time as this?

Voel jy ooit alleen? Het God jou afgesonder vir iets spesiaal? Vir ‘n tyd soos dit?

Sometimes the people we trust let you down like Erin’s brother, Adrian. Sometimes it’s a parent who believes you’re more grown-up and responsible than you feel, like Erin’s mom. Sometimes the person we care about the most is taken from us like Erin’s mother, Grammy, experienced when her parents got divorced and Grammy’s father moved away after she and her brother misbehaved and he sadly drowned.

Somtyds sal die mense op wie jy vertrou jou teleurstel soos Erin se broer, Adrian. Somtyds is dit ‘n ouer wie glo jy is meer volwasse en verantwoordelik as wat jy voel, soos Erin se moeder. Somtyds die persoon vir wie ons die meeste omgee word van ons weggevat soos Erins se moeder, Grammy, ervaar het toe haar ouers geskei is en Grammy se vader weggetrek het na sy en haar broer hulle wangedra het en hy treurig verdrink het.

This means just one thing. No! No! Not that you must rely on yourself and put up a wall to keep yourself safe!! How silly! A wall means you’ve locked yourself in a prison. And getting tough is silly because there’s always someone stronger or tougher. The answer Erin discovered was finding the One who is “closer than a brother” and loves us more than a mother”!!!

Dit beteken net een ding. Nee! Nee! Nie dat jy op jouself moet staatmaak en ‘n muur opsit om jouself veilig te hou!! Hoe simpel! ‘n Muur beteken dat jy jouself in ‘n tronk toegesluit het. En om taai te word is simpel omdat daar altyd iemand sterker of taaier is. Die antwoord wat Erin ontdek het was om die een te vind wat “nader as ‘n broer” en liewer vir ons is as ‘n moeder”!!!

So let me ask you again…

So laat my jou weer vra…

Do YOU ever feel alone?

Voel JY ooit alleen?

Are YOU ever afraid?

Is JY ooit bang?

Do YOU ever feel like no one understands?

Voel JY ooit asof niemand verstaan nie?

Well then...Guess what? It’s the appointed time. You’ve been reading and/or listening to this story because this is your Divine Appointment. There’s Someone who's been waiting for you. Someone Who is about to use everything that’s made no sense or what’s hurt you for GOOD.

Wel dan…Raai wat? Dit is die bepaalde tyd. Jy het hierdie storie gelees en/ of na geluister omdat dit jou Godsgerigte Afspraak is. Daar is iemand wat vir jou gewag het. Iemand Wat op die punt is om alles wat geen sin vir jou gemaak het of wat jou ten GOEDE seergemaak het te gebruik.

All you need to do is talk to Him. That’s what prayer is—it’s simply talking to God! You can talk privately anywhere at any time because you’re talking to Him in your head and in your heart. Begin like Erin did, by confessing everything you’ve ever done wrong right here, right now. Then once you feel clean and free, ask the Lord to come and live in your heart!!

Al wat jy nodig het om te doen is om met Hom te praat. Dit is wat gebed is—dit is om eenvoudig mt God te praat! Jy kan enige plek en enige tyd privaat met Hom praat omdat jy met Hom in jou kop en jou hart praat. Begin soos Erin begin het, deur te bieg oor alles wat jy verkeerd gedoen het reg hier, nou dadeelik. Dan sodra jy skoon en vry voel, vra die Here om in jou hart te kom lewe!!

Epilogue
Epiloog

What Happened Later
Wat Later gebeur Het

For seven years Erin often took the bus home by herself but she was never alone. God was preparing her to become very comfortable being set apart so that she would be ready to travel around the world “listening to a word behind her” so she knew when to go “right or left.” “He led” Erin to meet people all around the world who longed for a First Love Who would never leave or forsake them. Someone Who would always be closer than a brother and Who loved them more than a mother. A Heavenly Father Who would comfort them when their parents divorced.

Vir sewe jaar het Erin dikwels die bus by haarself huis toe geneem maar sy was nooit alleen nie. God was besig om haar voor te berei om gemaklik te wees om afgesonder te wees sodat sy gereed kon wees om dwarsoor die wêreld te reis en “na ‘n woord agter haar te luister” so sy het geweet wanneer om “regs of links” te gaan. “Hy het Erin gelei om mense rondom die wêreld te ontmoet wie hunker na ‘n Eerste Liefde wie hulle nooit sal los en nooit in die steek laat nie. Iemand wie altyd nader as ‘n broer sal wees en Wie meer liewer vir hulle is as ‘n moeder. ‘n Hemelse Vader wie hulle sou troos toe hulle ouers geskei is.

And because His blessings are passed to many generations, Erin’s daughter, Tara, did the same—traveling and meeting people around the world. Little girls and boys and moms who spoke many languages but welcomed His love.

En omdat Sy seëninge na baie geslagte oorgegee is, het Erin se dogter, Tara, het dieselfde gedoen—gereis en mense dwarsoor die wêreld ontmoet. Klein dogtertjies en seuns en moeders wie baie tale gepraat het maar Sy liefde verwelkom het.

If this story has helped you feel better, please share your story with us. It’s your testimony and it’s what will help other girls overcome difficulties in their lives! And if you shared our story with a friend or someone else, we’d love to hear just how it happened.

As hierdie storie jou gehelp het om beter te voel, deel asseblief jou storie met ons. Dit is jou getuienis en dit is wat ander meisies sal help om moeilikhede in hulle lewens te oorkom! En as jy ons storie met ‘n vriendin of iemand anders gedeel het, sal ons lief wees om te hoor net hoe dit gebeur het.