My Dad loved history and he was a great storyteller. But he never (as in never) spoke about his childhood, and he wouldn’t explain why my siblings and I didn’t spend time with, or even have a relationship with our grandparents (his parents). But as the years passed, we came […]
Vivienne Solomons
Faith for the season — Vivienne Solomons
In the past, when I thought of “having faith’, I thought of it in general terms, for my life, as a whole. I didn’t think of faith in a particular context. Either I had faith, or I didn’t. It is, however, possible to be “full of faith” in a particular […]
Is there ever a good time for bad things to happen? — Vivienne Solomons
I don’t think so. Although there are times when we do feel better prepared to deal with upheaval in our lives and those challenges that appear when least expected. Recently, I had Covid 19 and while I am grateful that it did not develop into a complicated infection, I was […]
Looking back and looking ahead — Vivienne Solomons
As I glance back at the year that (almost) was, I am grateful. Not because it was the best year I can remember. But because in the midst of personal loss and many tears, there has been cause for much celebration too.When I was younger, I saw things very differently. […]
Of fairy gardens, the tooth mouse and ‘trick or treating’ — Vivienne Solomons
This year will be remembered in my family, as I am sure in yours, for many reasons, some of them wonderful highlights to our family’s story, others we would sooner forget. Then there are those moments that have proven tricky to navigate while still maintaining a culture of honour and […]
‘It is well with my soul’ — Vivienne Solomons
Through the years I have contributed here, I have always written from my heart and from the perspective of whatever is happening in my life at the time, in the hope that you, the reader finds it at least helpful but hopefully, also encouraging in your own journey through life. […]
While we’re waiting — Vivienne Solomons
It is safe to say that no one likes waiting. From the youngest to the oldest among us, waiting does not come easy. It often requires planning and more than a little patience. Anyone who has had to negotiate getting out of the house on time with an independent pre-schooler […]
Honesty: more than a policy — Vivienne Solomons
Honesty. We teach it to our children and then often become upset when they do finally open up to tell us the truth about something — all while we ourselves grapple with it on a daily basis. As believers, we know that the Word of God is very clear, from […]
Our relationships: a lifeline at times like these
It didn’t take him long. A few days after moving in to our new home, my almost-5-years-old extrovert introduced himself (and then the whole family by name) by shouting “Hello!” over the wall and waiting rather impatiently for a response. Finally, his persistence was rewarded when a friendly voice replied […]
How then shall we live? — Vivienne Solomons
This past week has been a particularly difficult week for many of us personally, and as a nation. In the midst of the Covid-19 health crisis and all that it has meant for us as South Africans, we are now faced with the reality of rolling blackouts and yet another […]