When I was born, my mother was only 16-years old. She and my father was never married. I was their only child, and I was spoilt rotten by both sides’ grandparents. This made me a very intolerable young girl.
I lived with my grandparents while my mother finished her schooling and tertiary education. My grandparents almost never disciplined me or corrected any bad behaviour, which increased my bad attitude.
When I was 7 years old, my mother started working and I then went to live with them. I hated living there because now for the first time there were rules as well as consequences for my bad behaviour.
When my grandparents called I would cry saying how I hated it there. I visited both pairs of grandparents every holiday and then all the rules, consequences and punishment would be out the door. They would give me anything and everything my heart desired. And when I went home after the holidays, it would feel like hell again.
This emotional rollercoaster continued throughout my school career and got worse as time passed. I was a rebellious child, challenging everything they tried to teach me.
In high school I met a guy whom my parents did not approve of at all, and this was the perfect way to spite them. The more I lied and manipulated to be with him, the more my parents would ground me and the more I would rebel against them. Until I had, had enough.
Three months before my matric year exams, I ran away with him, stealing money and leaving in the middle of the night. We travelled from place to place and ended up in a shelter in Harrismith.
I slowly started realising how verbally and emotionally abusive he was, but I still didn’t want to listen. After a few months in the shelter, we went to Kimberley, and I stayed with him and his mother.
Things seemed to be going well until his mother threatened to kill me in my sleep.
I didn’t realize it back then, but that was God’s way of calling me back home. God made everything work together so perfectly that we went back to my parents on a farm outside Oudtshoorn.
God prepared their hearts as well as mine for my return.
It felt good to be back home. My parents welcomed me back with open arms, not once condemning me for what I had done. I have never experienced such love and forgiveness and they treated me as if I had never left. I received forgiveness without condemnation. It reminded me of the story of the prodigal son returning home and how his father celebrated his return.
My parents chose to show me God’s love, and through the way they treated me I could also experience the unconditional love of God. It drew me closer to Jesus.
Shortly afterwards, the guy I dated decided to return to Kimberley, but I stayed behind as I was convinced that was what God wanted me to do.
I was baptized according to Acts 2 verse 38 – Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
God not only saved my life, but he also changed my life for his glory. All praise to God our Father and his precious Son, Jesus Christ, who saves lost souls like me. (CHARLIZE SWARTS)
Kingdom News: Saved by unconditional love
