Upon arriving for a short visit to South Africa, my former Maths teacher, Elsa, invited my mom and me to her farm. Accompanied by several women who played significant roles in my childhood, we sang Christmas carols and shared personal anecdotes that underscored the grace we had experienced. During difficult times, amazing grace manifests itself through people, opportunities, and situations.

Elsa’s story of immense grace

Elsa’s story of immense grace struck me. Her farm had tragically burned down shortly before our visit. She wasn’t at home during the fire. Numerous people offered help in various ways. Remarkably, only the hectare of land housing her farmhouse and farm workers’ houses remained untouched by the flames. She had lost her husband to cancer, and her farmhouse carries a lifetime of stories and memories shared with him. These shared stories shaped the focus of my thoughts on the grace in my life.

My mom

Circumstances granted me the privilege of spending time with my mom. Age has a peculiar manner of highlighting the impermanence of life and the grace found in moments spent with your parents. Seeing all the structures built by my dad, who died 25 years ago, two days after Christmas, highlighted this realisation for me. In the shade of the camel-thorn tree of my mom’s garden, we reminisced about anecdotes from the past. I am grateful for my joyous childhood years spent in the Kalahari. You don’t get to choose your parents or the place of your upbringing. There is enormous grace in a happy childhood.

My sister and her kids

Upon learning of my visit to Cape Town in early December, my sister’s daughter, Marga, decided to sell her Matriekbaai ticket. She gave up a week with school friends to celebrate the end of her school years, in exchange for time with family. We all miss our annual holidays together. We saw this as an opportunity to visit our favourite spots and enjoy the Cape Town sun and sea.

From Blouberg, we marvelled at the iconic silhouette of Table Mountain, creating a picturesque backdrop to our time together. Jacques encouraged Marga and Altus to brave the cold Atlantic waters. Exploring the V&A Waterfront, we admired the traditional and colourful South African Christmas decorations and dances.

We also took the opportunity to visit Christo’s student hangouts and enjoy the beautifully decorated cakes from Jacques’ business, The Cinnamon Club.

Jacques

Jacques finished his student years and was ready to start working during the pandemic. As an entrepreneur, he decided to start the Cinnamon Club, a bakery focusing on vegan and gluten-free baked goods. Despite many economic and electricity challenges in South Africa, the business did well. Jacques is now ready to expand to business premises at Woodstock Exchange. I am grateful to have been able to share with him the moment he received the key to the premises. He has received so much grace in his business, and I wish him continued success.

Christo

Christo was halfway through his 12th grade when we moved to Switzerland. Only two months after he started his university journey, the Covid pandemic hit the world. His student years were particularly challenging. Attending his graduation filled me with gratitude and emotion. This achievement would not have been possible without the support of many people in his life. I see a lot of grace in the individuals who shared this journey with him. He had the love, support and encouragement of his girlfriend, Simone. Moreover, he has supportive engineering student friends who lightened the academic demands with humour and social distractions.

I am grateful for the partners in parenting and that I could celebrate the occasion with Christo’s dad and his family.

Partners in Parenting

Despite our decision to part ways years ago, Gert and I maintained our commitment to co-parenting. Our partnership has expanded to include four parents with distinct personalities, perspectives, and individual realities. It was sometimes challenging, but we always acted with the boys’ best interests at heart. Nevertheless, I am convinced that having four parents has significantly enhanced the boys’ lives, broadening their perspectives in numerous ways. I am sincerely grateful to Charl for his rationality, insight and wisdom in raising the boys.

Jacques lived with Gert and Denise for a long time during the pandemic. Denise’s wisdom and Gert’s knowledge and experience as an entrepreneur and businessman gave direction and clarity to Jacques’ life and career.

Christo gave the following acknowledgement in his thesis.  To my parents, Gert and Emsia, and their partners, Denise and Charl, thank you for providing me with the opportunity to be able to write this acknowledgement as I prepare myself for the final submission of my undergraduate degree. Thank you Dad for always keeping me on my toes and thinking critically. Thank you Mom for always being available when I want to phone, and helping me with life’s problems as I become an adult.

A new year

We all enter a new year with a clean slate. Just like other years, this year will also bring challenges. We don’t know its nature and extent. However, I walk into it confidently because I know that the grace received in my life has consistently exceeded the challenges.

May it be a beautiful and graceful new year.

Regards

Emsia