A Bittersweet Jozi Easter
I went to church with my friend Nina today. She invited me a while ago and I figured Easter is a good day to take her up on the offer.
Nina attends a multicultural charismatic church called His People Christian Church of Johannesburg. Services take place in a large auditorium. There is a full band and lots of singing. My plan was to sit back, watch the service, and enjoy the music.
The service kicked off with three or four hymns in a row. The words to the songs, which I would describe as modern religious ballads, were projected onto a screen at the front of the hall. The songs were all about death and rebirth and overcoming adversity.
I looked around. Most of the congregation was clapping, or standing with arms akimbo, swaying to the music and singing along. Some people had their eyes closed and called out an occasional “Amen”.
I felt a few tears coming on. The more I listened to the music, and read about death and rebirth on the big screen, the more I thought about Jon. I began to sob. There was no stopping it. I cried for the entire 90-minute service.
I thought I was finished with these episodes of spontaneous crying. Apparently not.
Fortunately I decided to spend the afternoon at Child Haven, the children’s home where Nina works. The kids at Child Haven were celebrating Easter by playing on a jumping castle, climbing the jungle gym, and hunting for chocolate eggs. The weather was warm and perfectly sunny. We ate candy, chicken from KFC, and homemade chips (French fries). The kids made me forget all about how sad I felt.
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Thank goodness for smiling kids. And thank goodness for Nina. Happy Easter, everyone.
Comments
It will happen. I cried all the way through a Mother’s day service, three months after my Mum died. It’s okay.
Happy Easter.
I can imagine that must have been a hard service to get through. But I guess it’s part of the process. Thanks Linda.
Hang in there Heather! It is natural to cry. I am sure you will cry for a long time. Thinking of you! Nicole
Thanks for spending time with us. I hope the kids lifted your spirit a little and that the rest of your day was filled with rest and grace. Be gracious to thyself. Hugs
Thanks Nina, you’re the best.
I am glad you were with a good friend for Easter.
Oh, Heather, I’m sure I would have cried, too, if I were in your shoes. Hang in there. And happy Easter. Hugs, Kathy
Thanks Kathy, happy Easter to you too.
Dear Heather, Happy Easter. You are still in mourning. When Carol lost her first son (Claude drowned in his grandma’s pool in Jopburg) she told me it took 5 years of mourning. I suppose you never get over the loss of a child. The good thing is Carol found some closure on this 30 odd years later when she found a stone in the joburg Anglican church which marked her son’s ashes. Hang in ther Heather.
Kim
Good smiles, seeing those kids makes me happy, thanks for sharing and thank God that a woman like Nina made smile the childrens.
Thank you Carlos. Happy holidays :)
Sounds like a balance was reached. Another healing episode for you no doubt, take care♥
Thanks :)
I’m a crier too, and wish I could control it better myself. But then, you have been dealt a huge blow and it is hardly surprising to me that you should be overwhelmed by emotion ‘spontaneously’…. Big hug. Love the photos of the smiling kiddos….so precious :)
Thanks Munira!
I love & appropriate every thing done to assist youths in camp sizanani. I wish that this type of assistance and camp will be established here in the niger delta of nigeria where I come from. Surely God will reward the people behind camp sizanani. Just keep the flag flying.