Now I Understand Why It Had to Happen: How Life Would Be If We Were to Give Up

By Patrick Neo Mabiletsa

The story is about a young man (myself) who grew up in a small village, raised by a single mother who had to endure a lot of stress, trials and tribulation. In the midst of all the stresses and the going up and down of life, with two kids to raise, with a condition of High Blood pressure, sugar diabetes, she fought to keep her kids happy and in the process made them stronger, although it was hard for them, they had to grow up quickly and in the process giving up a lot of privileges. Today they are all grown, even though they still experience the pain and the hurt they had to go through, they do understand that other things have a reason why they happen, they know that if they hadnt gone through other things, life wouldnt be the same for them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Dec 20, 2012
• ISBN: 9781456877750

Patrick Neo Mabiletsa

Patrick Neo Mabiletsa is a young Christian man who lives in Johannesburg. Writing short stories and poetry is what's been keeping him busy since childhood. A credit bureau industry is the current employer of this young, dynamic man in the Business Information Department.

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Copyright © 2012 by PATRICK NEO MABILETSA.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

0-800-644-6988

www.xlibrispublishing.co.uk

3016693

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

This book is dedicated to the memory of my mother,

my late wife as well as to my lovely family for their support,

to my wife Bongiwe and my two daughters Lino and Tlhogi.

Things have been difficult and I mostly want to thank God and

the church family that has been great to me, and everyone else

who has worked and supported me in editing

and the completion of the manuscript.

All thanks!

Chapter 1

It was in the early hours of the morning in Jericho just 30 minutes away from a small town of Brits. It was the Wednesday of June 10 th in 1981. The winter sun was just about to come out. The grass was wet from the evening cold and the skies were blue and clear; it was indeed going to be a very beautiful day. Everything seemed to be into place, even the weather. The small mid-winter winds, the blue skies, the shining sun and even the cold was just above average that morning.

There was a young and beautiful woman with a gaze so beautiful, you could get lost in her eyes as she stared at you. You could feel the love and the warmth of her love. She had an almost sharp nose as if she was western. A nice tiny body, with long ostrich like legs and the most beautiful smile with a bit of a loud laughter. As she walked, you would think of the queen of Sheba. This was a woman of dreams, purpose, integrity and self-respect.

When she spoke, her soft voice would give any child sanity and certainty. When she laughed, you felt the goodness of her contagious graceful spirit and you will feel her warmth and her kindness.

A few hours after staring at the beautiful sky and weather, Louisa stood there and started thinking about her life. Having bad and beautiful thoughts, she started having pains in her stomach. O my God, I think it’s time," said Louisa.

She was pregnant and it was time to give birth. It had been a long time coming. The whole nine months, she stood outside under the paw-paw tree thinking about her problems and solutions. She has been down and under with getting sick and running to the clinic. When the day of giving birth arrived, you could see the relief in her eyes. She has been under a lot of stress without the support of a husband. Louisa already had two other children. Sadly she lost her little girl Lorraine, a few years before her son Thabo was born.

By Thabo being the oldest, he felt the need to take over the headship of the family in the absence of a father. Thabo is dark, strong willed, with a very strong character. A boy who had to grow up fast and make sure the family is taken care of and protected.

There was still a lot of history for Louisa to forget and get over in such a short space of time. Life has not been easy for her with work and taking care of the children. It has been a year of shame, disappointment, hurt and difficulties, but the lord was able to see her through all the adversities. (Louisa’s strength).

What do you do when you feel that you have been disappointed enough in your life and there is no one to turn to? Life was difficult enough for her. She sometimes felt she could not move on, unless she found someone to help her. She tried to be strong at times but it was just too much. What can she really do when she felt no one cared what happens? What to do when the last hope of surviving is taken away from you?

Louisa had two sisters, an older sister and a younger sister. She also had four brothers, who were sometimes abusive to her. However, the faith inside of her was able to get her through those tough times and she became the most remarkable mother to two remarkable young men.

The time had arrived for Louisa to give birth to her third child and it was an emergency! Please someone call the car and take me to the hospital, Louisa screamed. However, there was no car at that time and she had to wait in pain for two more hours. She screamed repeatedly to the top of her lungs. In results she starts to enjoy the fact that this was the end of something painful and the beginning of something new. It was that moment when Louisa realized, she had to change the way she speaks and the way she thinks. It was time to speak and think nothing but good things. Love was in the air for her.

It was around 7:00am on that Wednesday of June 10th, when the car finally arrived. Louisa was then swiftly taken to the hospital. Around 10:00am, she gave birth to a beautiful boy, it was now time for her to rejoice and be glad. However, the thoughts of raising another child alone would not leave her mind. She kept thinking of ways to provide. There was only one solution for her, to go back to work and leave the child at home with her sister.

Louisa took her child into her hands and smiled, she knew that this child was a gift from God. Hence, she gave him the name Neo, which means, Gift. Holding him in her hands was the most beautiful and peaceful thing that has ever to happen to her. She was at ease and forgot her problems, for a while. And that was when I was born.

Chapter 2

Now that I was born, it was up to Louisa to go find work and that’s exactly what she did. It was VERY hard for her. The only job she was able to find was two hours away from home. Therefore, she was only able to return home once a month. For the children, it seemed like a very long time whenever their mother returned home with paper bags, packed with foodstuffs and clothes for them. There weren’t any phones back then. Therefore, when the children would see a bus, they will hope to see their mother walking off it. I would sometimes walk to the bus stop by himself hoping to see his mother, only for his heart to be broken and sadly walked back home in tears. Not only was it hard for the children but it was hard for Louisa as well. Although when the day arrived and she walked off that bus, it seemed as though she was very happy. If you knew Louisa before I was born; you would always be able to tell when something was wrong. (Matters of the heart)

As I grew up, things were starting to become clear to him. There were several of questions he wanted to ask his mother. He began noticing something in his life was missing and he was determined to find out what it was. When the time came for him to ask his mother what was missing in his life, Louisa looked at him as if she’s been waiting for this question. What is so different in my life mother, why does it look like I am the only one out of my friends who does not have two parents, I asked. Sadly, there was no response.

It’s now twenty three years later and I still sit with thoughts of how strange it was to see most of my friends with their fathers. It was difficult for me being a child without the understanding of why I did not have a father to play soccer with! Why I did not have a father to teach me how to ride a bicycle or how to tie my shoes. Everything I did took longer, simply because the one person, who was supposed to be a part of my life, helping my mother, was not available to do so.

It was very hard for my mother to raise us all by herself! Life was so difficult for her that my brother and I had to give up so many things to make life a lot easier for her. We saw how much she struggled and we hated it. Therefore, we were willing to compromise many of luxurious things like, expensive clothing and shoes. It seemed clear enough to us, to pay more attention on our basic needs and our education. Somehow we knew that our education was the key to becoming successful.

I remember when I used to go to school without shoes; my brother would be the only one attending school field trips since he was on the soccer team. I remember crying every time when I saw him preparing himself for the school trip, it