BECOMING THE RIGHT PERSON
Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’
Soos baie van julle dalk weet, staan ek deesdae weer in die klas en gee so paar klasse Wiskunde elke dag. Een van die moeilikste dinge vir my om te verwerk…is waneer ek ‘n toets uitdeel en die teleurstelling in van die kinders se oë sien waneer hulle hul toets uitslae kry. Teluerstelling is ‘n moeilike emosie om te werwerk en mens kry nie altyd lesse en stappe oor hoe proseseer mens die mengelmoes van emosies wat deur jou kop en hart gaan nie.
During the past two weeks, I have seen many Hermies, returning from winter sport trials…where they had their heart set on making some form of Boland team…but they didn’t. Many a Saturday, I have seen boys and girls representing their sports team, having to deal with a loss…disappointment!
Noudie dag gesels ek met iemand wat van ‘n ander skool af kom waar sy met haar akademiese uitslae op die Top 10 was…en nou sukkel sy en is nog NIE op die Top 10 nie…en dit het my weereens laat dink…
How do we deal with disappointment?
The hurt and the pain is real, especially if you have really put many hours of hard work into achieving your goal. So my advice is…be MAD, be SAD…acknowledge the emotion…but then we have to move on. Use the pain as fuel in your tank and work harder and work smarter…that is what you physically can do to make you feel better. The rest must happen between the ears and in the heart. There is a gospel song: “Who you say I am” where some of the lyrics says the following: “I am chosen, not forsaken…I am who YOU say I am…you are for me, not against me…I am who YOU say I am.” If you google “how many promises are there in the bible” then I got 8810. We have technology today like google, ChatGPT and I am sure many others as well. When you set a goal, don’t set your focus on the problems, but focus on the promises. Find a promise in God’s Word that will take you to your goal.
So hou vas aan Jeremia 29:11 wat een van baie beloftes is wat jy in die Bybel sal vind. Daar is ‘n ander afrikaanse liedjie wat sê: “…maar as jy val, moet jy gou weer opstaan, uithou, aanhou, altyd voortgaan.” …en dit is wat ons Suid-Afrikaners het, wat ons Hermies het…en dis veerkragtigheid (resilience)…we bounce back and find a way. To cope with and survive disappointment, we don’t have to be perfect, just authentic and real. One of the benefits of that is once again, becoming the right person…which will attract the right people into your life. If you surround yourself with competent and successful people, you will eventually also become successful. If you surround yourself with the right people, you will have a support base second-to-none!
Beteken dit dat al jou probleme en uitdagings gaan verdwyn. Verseker NIE! Jy gaan altyd een of ander vorm van konflik in jou lewe hê. Ons moet leer om die lewe te geniet terwyl ons probleme oplos. Die lewe is a “roller-coaster ride” met baie ops en afs en dit is onafwendbaar! Hoe jy daarop reageer en dit proseseer is wat die verskil gaan maak. Sterkte met die res van die kwartaal en die res van die jaar. Mag jy die ondersteunings netwerk hê om jou te motiveer om die uitdagings of teleurstellings te verwerk en te oorkom en meer belangrik, mag jy daai persoon wees in iemand anders se ondersteunings netwerk en lewe om hulle beter te laat voel oor hulself en die uitdagings in hulle lewe.
Life is not about the destination, but about the journey. Enjoy the ride!
I want to finish off with part of an Irish blessing:
May the road rise and meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
PRAYER
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for making life adventurous. Thank you that life is not boring…thank you for creating challenges in our lives, that will make us stronger and better at what we do. Help us to not only deal and conquer our own challenges, but to serve those close to us, to help them, be there for them, to be a good friend who will assist them to become a better version of themselves…and in helping them, may we also become better at who we are.
Thank you once again for the amazing pupils we have at this wonderful school. Thank you for the dedicated staff and the supporting parents. We can see Your hand in everything we do at our school and we want to thank you and praise you for that.
AMEN
Mr MJ Smuts
PRINCIPAL