Elder Benson - South Africa Jo-Berg Mission

Elder Benson - South Africa Jo-Berg Mission

Monday, June 20, 2016

Lord, Forgive me when I whine.

This is a letter is dedicated to a close friend of mine, who was a pioneer for the Church in South Africa and third grandmother to me: Bobbi Swanepoel.  She has recently passed on from this life and I wish to commemorate her passing by sharing one of her poems.

She was a truly gifted woman.  Her skill in watercolor painting are unsurpassed, her talent as a poet is top-notch, but her testimony of her life is one of legacy, sacrifice, and endurance.  She went through thick and thin, and yet her final words to the world include this amazing poem.  I hope we will all cultivate an attitude of gratitude, and see clearly with the amazing things we have been blessed with.

Lord Forgive Me When I Whine

Today upon the bus, I saw a lovely girl with golden hair. . . she seemed so gay . . . and I wish I was so fair. When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down the aisle. She had one leg and wore a crutch. But as she passed  smile.

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine – I have two legs. The world is mine!!

I stopped to buy some candy. The lad who sold it had such charm. I talked with him. He seemed so glad – if I were late it would do no harm. And as I left he said, “I thank you. You have been so kind. It’s nice to talk to folks like you. You see,” he said. “I am blind.”

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine – I have two eyes. The world is mine.

Later while walking down the street, I saw a child with eyes so blue. He stood and watched the others play. He did not know what to do. I stopped a moment then I said, Why don’t you join the others dear?” He looked ahead without a word, and then I knew he couldn’t hear.

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine – I have two ears. The world is mine.

With feet to take me where I go, with eyes to see the sunset’s glow, with ears to hear what I would know . . .

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine. I am blessed indeed. The world is mine!!

Sorry for such a short email this week.  Load shedding and power outages are quite common this side.  More to come next week!

Sale kahle!

-Elder B

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