I just watched a biographical movie about Nelson Mandela that offered details about his life before his election as President of South Africa. It was wonderful. Â
Like many of us, he was a person who carried many flaws and bad behaviors. He was prideful, a wom
I just watched a biographical movie about Nelson Mandela that offered details about his life before he was elected President of South Africa. It was wonderful. Â
Like many of us, he was a person who carried many flaws and bad behaviors. He was prideful, a womanizer, a workaholic, selfish, and so much more. His first wife left him because of his womanizing and he eventually married a woman named, Winnie. Fortunately, like us, that was not the totality of his life.
After 50 years of using nonviolent tactics to combat the evils of racism and a violent apartheid system in South Africa, Mandela assisted in blowing up empty buildings to send a message. He was caught along with his accomplices and sentenced to life in prison.
While he was in prison, his wife Winnie was also dealing with hardships and struggles with the government and its violations.
Both Nelson and Winnie were eventually released from prison. Nelson served 27 years. Winnie was given a 5-year jail term and was sent to solitary confinement for 18 months during that time. However, each of them came out differently.
Only God knows His plans and purpose for why He allows us to go through the pain and suffering journeys that we do. He certainly never causes evil. However, He has the power to stop it. So why does He allow those things to happen? If His word is true, His promise is always to do what is best for us because He is a good Father who will always do what is right and best, even if it does not feel good to us. Having to reset a broken bone doesn’t feel good but it is what a good doctor will do to set the leg to heal so we can run correctly in the future.
Winnie left her prison walls bitter and angry. She blamed her oppressors and in her victimization became one by murdering others. She never healed and in time became violent. Nelson left his prison walls changed. He still wanted the same things he originally dreamed of, yet, his heart experienced forgiveness. He took his power back in realizing he was never a victim of others’ fear or hatred. It was only through love and viewing others through a different lens that change could come. As long as he saw himself as less than, he was.
Through his pain and suffering, Nelson Mandela was used by God to change the hatred and racism of a government to one of growing peace and reconciliation. Yes, the world as a whole is still in process. But it is through all of our willingness to journey into our pain to choose to be better for ourselves and others that will truly make this world a better place.
You can do this!Â
If you want to read more about how to deal with forgiveness or suffering and your pain, check out my latest book called, “Why Me?” Click on this Link
Take care,
Charlotte
Dream Madly, Pursue Wildly, Trust Completely tm      Â
Copyright © 2022 by Charlotte D. Hunt All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, or otherwise without written permission from the author except for brief quotations in printed reviews.
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