A Woman of Great Importance

"Mourning" - 
Charcoal sketch, 
Annemie Odendaal

The most remarkable woman I ever knew, was my grandmother Anna. She was very wise and always gentle and kind. She never judged or spoke ill of anyone. I don't remember her talking much, but when she spoke, we listened.

Despite being a highly intelligent woman, she was content to be an exemplary, supportive wife and mother. 

Travel Spot: Makalai Game Lodge

Freezing! Unfortunately this is what I remember most about the weekend. Not the wonderful animal sightings, which we had, or the annoying guests, which there were, or the wonderful, spacious, romantic room with a fireplace and sightseeing deck. Just the cold...

Other than that, it was an enjoyable, unique adventure for us city-light creatures. No phones, no television, no radio (unless you count the incessant two-way radio chats between the rangers, which I suggested they syndicate out and sell as a full-time radio station), and no civilisation for miles!

A Dangerous Prayer

I know they say "be careful what you wish for", but sometimes it is really good to be kicked out of your comfort zone, to grow and to strengthen your faith and character. A man who really knew what this meant, was St Francis Drake. 

Here is a prayer he wrote, which touches me deeply every time I read it:

Disturb us, Lord,
when We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Miss Understood

"Pity the Child" - Oil
by Annemie Odendaal

Pity the child who has ambition, Knows what he wants to do
Knows that he'll never fit the system, Others expect him to
Pity the child who knew his parents, Saw their faults
Saw their love die before his eyes
Pity the child that wise
Pity the child but not forever, Not if he stays that way
He can get all he ever wanted, If he's prepared to pay....
from the musical "Chess"

To Regret or not to Regret...

Annemie Odendaal: "More lives than One"
Charcoal

I have always said that I regret nothing I have ever done in my life. Good or bad. It made me who I am today, it taught me lessons and it brought me to where I am at this moment in my life. 

Or did it?

Turns out there is one thing I did in my life, that I will regret forever, and that was getting married. Even though I am single again now, I just cannot shake the uneasy feeling that because of the mistake I made, I might be at the wrong place in my life right now.

Suicide Watch.

The age old question: Can you go to Heaven if you commit suicide?

Charcoal  - Annemie Odendaal
"The Life she longed for"

How will we know? It's not like we can pick up the phone and ask them. Although I cannot conceive that our merciful God will not have any circumstantial clause where we can be forgiven and still go to heaven, I understand that it is a great sin and one the Bible warns us against. 

I also know that a lot of people have been saved by the bell so to speak, like the murderer who hung on the cross next to Jesus. When he realised Jesus was innocent, and took accountability for his own sins with true repentance, God told him that they will be together in Paradise that same day. 

Fat and Happy?

Annemie Odendaal: Oil & Charcoal
"The Weight of my Mistakes"

I used to think, and believe, that I am fat and happy. Over the past two years, I am embarrassed to say, I have picked up a substantial amount of weight. I just wrote it off to all our travels and love for good food and wine, and never really lost sleep over it. After my sudden divorce however, I just started losing weight spontaneously. I did not put in any effort, and I wasn't in mourning, denying myself of good care and food. No, it just-happened.

That's when I started thinking. Is your weight gain a symptom of something else that might be wrong in your life, something bigger that you might not even be aware of?