BEING A MOTHER - A must share!!!

BEING A MOTHER... After 17 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie. She said, 'I love you, but I know this other woman loves you and would love to spend some time with you.' * * * The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my MOTHER, who has been alone for 20 years, but the demands of my work and my two boys had made it possible to visit her only occasionally. * * * That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie. * * * 'What's wrong, aren't you well,' she asked? * * * My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news. * * * 'I thought it would be pleasant to spend some time with you,' I responded. 'Just the two of us.' She thought about it for a moment, and then said, 'I would like that very much.' * * * That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last birthday on November 19th. * * * She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel's. 'I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed,' she said, as she got into that new white van. 'They can't wait to hear about our date'. * * * We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady. After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only read large print. Half way through the entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips. 'It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small,' she said. 'Then it's time that you relax and let me return the favor,' I responded.




* * * During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation- -nothing extraordinary but catching up on recent events of each other's life. We talked so much that we missed the movie. * * * As we arrived at her house later, she said, 'I'll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you.' I agreed. * * * 'How was your dinner date ?' asked my wife when I got home. 'Very nice. Much more so than I could have imagined,' I answered. * * * A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn't have a chance to do anything for her. * * * Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place mother and I had dined. An attached note said: 'I paid this bill in advance. I wasn't sure that I could be there; but nevertheless, I paid for two plates - one for you and the other for your wife. You will never know what that night meant for me. I love you, son.' * * * At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time: 'I LOVE YOU' and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than your family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till 'some other time.' * * * Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby..... somebody doesn't know that once you're a mother, 'normal' is history. * * * Somebody said you learn how to be a mother by instinct . somebody never took a three-year-old shopping. * * * Somebody said being a mother is boring ... somebody never rode in a car driven by a teenager with a driver's permit. Somebody said if you're a'good' mother, your child will 'turn out good'.... somebody thinks a child comes with directions and a guarantee. * * * Somebody said you don't need an education to be a mother.... somebody never helped a fourth grader with his math. * * * Somebody said you can't love the second child as much as you love the first .. somebody doesn't have two children. * * * Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labor and delivery.... somebody never watched her 'baby' get on the bus for the first day of kindergarten ... or on a plane headed for military 'boot camp.' * * * Somebody said a mother can stop worrying after her child gets married....somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a mother's heartstrings. * * * Somebody said a mother's job is done when her last child leaves home.... somebody never had grandchildren. * * * Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell her.... somebody isn't a mother. This isn't just about being a mother; it's about appreciating the people in your life while you have them....no matter who that person is.

"My Feet Are Off The Ground"

By Tyler Perry: writer and actor


This morning I awoke and was so frustrated about all of the stuff that I'm

dealing with in trying to get this studio open. I was about to open my

mouth and start complaining when I remembered something that happened to

me about a year ago.



On that day, I was walking to my car when this woman who appeared to be

homeless started walking towards me. I'm ashamed to say this but I

thought, "I don't feel like being hustled today."



I felt guilty so I started digging in my pocket for some money. As she got

closer I noticed that she had the kindest eyes that I had ever seen. As I

was reaching into my pocket she started to speak. I thought, "Here goes

the sales pitch". She said "Excuse me sir, I need some shoes. Can you help

me?" I was taken aback...instead of a sob story this woman had asked for

something she genuinely needed.



I took her inside the studio and had my wardrobe people find shoes in her

size. As she put the shoes on she started crying, praising God and saying,

"My feet are off the ground! My feet are off the ground!" Several of the

wardrobe people started crying... I was crying. But I never forgot those

words. "My feet are off the ground!"



I thought, "Wow! All she wanted was some shoes." She quickly disappeared

and never asked me for a dime... I realized that I still had the money in

my hand so I went out looking for her. She was gone just that quick so I

looked all around the neighborhood for her.



I found her standing on a corner looking down at her shoes, still crying.

I was so touched. I asked her how she had gotten homeless. She told me

that she had AIDS and that she was waiting to get into a shelter. She said

that her family had turned their backs on her and that she had no place to

go, but she knew that God would make a way for her.



I said to myself, "He just did." Her faith and her praise moved me. I took

her to a nearby hotel and put her up until she was able to get on her

feet. After about a month or so we lost touch, but I never forgot her.



This past summer, a woman walked up to me smiling. I didn't recognize her

face, but her eyes were familiar. She had on a really nice dress and her

hair was done. She introduced herself to me and lo and behold - It was

her! She told me that the little help that I had given her had changed her

life. She was in a house now and doing very well.



I said all of that to say this: After I met this woman, every time I think

about complaining and mumbling I remember, "My feet are off the ground!"



I wanted to share this with you just - when you say you are thankful for

you - mean it.



When you say you are blessed - mean it.



Remember that there are many people whose feet are NOT off the ground so

be grateful that yours are!



"God providentially places us in the RIGHT place, at the RIGHT time, for

all the RIGHT reasons!"

Casual labour

Through the years I tried to keep myself abreast with either legislation and or important information, because of this I LOVE to listen to TALK shows i.e. listening to 702 Talk radio, SAfm,Kaya FM’s Today and a few others to name but a few.

On this shows you’ll hear different views from a diverse group of callers, especially if it is an open line discussion. What triggered my interest was because of either the one or the other. Recently I tuned into SAfm after 7pm, there was this one particular caller that left me in awe.

He was talking about slave labour in the hospitality industry – that is the hotels. Apparently staff members are expected to work as casual workers for long hours without any food supplies and or transport arrangements for those doing night duty. These employees are then forced to sleep in hotel toilets or at the reception areas, in most cases after a long shift with no food or a small amount of food and no after hours transport arrangements. These employees are the ones staying in the poorest of the poor areas, trying to make a living. This really made me think, not so long ago, or should I say shortly after the inauguration of our president, he promised about 500 000 jobs before the end of this year. Our Union body (COSATU) who is also an alliance partner realised that this would be a pipe dream and that this jobs would not be available or created easily because of the recession and or other hindering factors, announced that this will not be decent jobs instead it would be the current EPWP’s, Learnerships, internships and or casual labour without any benefits. Skilled or unskilled employment seekers then, because of the situation at places of residences and current economic challenges, heed the call of the president and the alliance partners. In most cases these desperate workseekers will settle for anything just to put bread on the table. Affected worker that comes to mind is the private security personnel, petrol attendants, seasonal farmworkers, those in hospitality industry to name a few. Now the big question – IS casual labour something good?




SO many questions… SO little answers…

Pedestrian Safety in the Central Business Districts

What forced me to write this blog is a simple question- it however remains unanswered.


HOW safe are our pedestrians when crossing the roads in the BIG CBD’s particularly with a culture of recklessness and impatience of all our drivers.

I had on numerous occasions observed this behaviour especially during the times of ESKOM load shedding or at intersections where robots are out due to either mechanical or electrical faults. This is when you will see that in particular taxi drivers show no regard for pedestrians, which in actual fact could be their potential customers. On numerous occasions I had to use my form of transport as a shield giving pedestrians right of way ensuring them to cross unmanned robots safely.

We understand that cars must cross and all of us want to reach our destinations safely, but due to impatience or disregard of road traffic signs this is not always possible. In most cases you will find that Law Enforcement officials manned robots that are fully functional – trying to direct traffic, creating more problems than a solution. Drivers approaching unmanned, not functional robots would just yield without stopping, thus not giving pedestrians a chance to cross the road safely. This incident leads to road rage as everyone wants to cross the road. Pedestrians will then put their own lives at risk jaywalking. What I would suggest is for authorities to educate all road users – not only during the festive season but all seasons; this will reduce road incidents drastically. I will on the other hand bet my last penny that you would be able to at least when accessing the website (http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/) get a manual on pedestrian safety for nexto nothing. So go ahead, (http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/) and you might just discover other bargains.



NOW the big question – IS there a need to educate our road users? SO many questions… SO little answers…