Starving

This is one rich verse. So many in society do one or more of these that I shudder for them.

I had a dream two nights ago that I had hired a PI to investigate my husband who I thought was hiring someone to kill me. We were gathering evidence together so we could report him to the police.

But then, the last meeting I overheard, the hired gun asked, “So where does your sister live?” The relief was immediate. And so was the joy that finally he’d seen the light and was getting rid of her. My PI and I kept quiet and allowed his plan to go ahead. (Haha, that was the first time I was evil in a dream.)

Parts of that dream are based on reality. There was a year I contemplated divorce and my greatest joy was in knowing I’d be free of certain relatives who have spread my problems out to the entire family-sending screenshots of my conversation to everyone, mostly people I didn’t even know, and all, people who never texted to ask how I am. Thankfully I wasn’t swearing or calling anyone names. I had actually commented that it seemed what had happened was a family curse because every other male sibling had done the same. But still, sharing my heartache to randoms was evil. So was lying about why I then blocked her and never confided in the person again. I didn’t know about the lies until a relative asked me if it was true because it didn’t seem like me.

Yep, cos it WASN’T!

So yes, there is indeed a relative that is a liar and makes false promises and is a backstabbing gossip. But I would tell him to rather just stop speaking to them and not commit a crime!

Adulterers cause terrible wounds that can’t ever be erased. Oppressors cause pain and suffering. Imagine hiring someone to work till 11 pm at night and only giving them R2000 salary! Many domestic workers and nannies are basically being used as slave labor! God will avenge them too. Same with oppressing the widow and the fatherless instead of caring for them and surrounding them with love and support.

I’ve discussed how xenophobic our country men here are and how the hatred becomes violent. Looting of small shops they’ve worked hard to stock, and even murder are the order of the day, sanctioned by an entire community in many places. The ones who don’t join in, turn a blind eye and don’t report the plans nor the criminals after the attacks have happened.

This scripture is so relevant to us today.

But back to the widows and the orphan. Here in South Africa and I’m sure in many other places, we have people dying from starvation. See, here, we don’t have benefits for the unemployed. They are on their own unless people take their fate into their own hands. Children are dying from starvation, people! Mothers and fathers… People who could give even one boiled egg to the unemployed don’t. If every other poverty stricken but at least employed though poorly paid relative gave their little, it would help! But they don’t. They don’t give even the little they can. And so people are starving to death in my own country.

Years ago, before we got married, (so it was 25 years ago), we decided that we would help our parents if they became poor, and anyone else who we felt was deserving. For the past few years, that has been an unloved orphan and more recently, our daughter’s birth mother. They are our attempt at fixing what is broken. I wish I could give more. It feels such a pitiful offering but to the receiver, it isn’t. And that gives me so much joy. Others have been so entitled that they even ask for tech-for cellphones… What?? Others claimed they wanted to borrow because the situation was urgent. But never repaid-and they WERE employed. The two (plus more) we are helping now have NO employment at all. Zero. And no family coming together to care and sustain.

My husband got a bonus and so we were able to give a bit more than we usually can-just for a few months. Spreading it out and sending it unexpectedly. That’s fun!! The pain of knowing someone is going to bed having eaten nothing the whole day is indescribable. And birth mom also has her daughters and her grandchild to feed too. I’d go crazy with depression! She sends in job applications but nothing. Story of everyone’s life, university educated like our one friend, and not. Yesterday was even more poignant when the other loved one told me that this month and last month, she didn’t have to worry about where food would come from.

The heartache! I can’t get over it. Yes we give but it can’t last a whole month. And that is always my sorrow. The knowledge that she is on the knife edge hurts. And she is one of the many who are suffering in South Africa. They are..and they are just a few out of hundreds of thousands!💔

Please, I beg you. If you know someone’s story and can give even R10, do so! The one family we helped years ago could live on that R10 for a few days at least. Church folk ignored their plight and they would survive on a dry loaf of bread from a R10 they’d borrowed from a flat mate. It can be the difference between survival, and dying of starvation. Your little, God will expand. Please never think it’s too small. To a dying soul, a slice of bread is worth eating. worry not at how little your gift may be. Just give it.

Please, please give if you already don’t. Not to the drunk, not to the addict in your family. To the deserving everywhere and anywhere. To the orphan and the widow. Both sets we give to are orphaned.

Love. Give. Share your orange, your apple, your sandwich. Like Job, search for those who need help and give. Please. 🙏🏾