The Rose That Grew From Concrete

By Sibongamandla Dlomo

About the Book

People always look at us and are intimidated by the end result, yet they do not know the process. Seeing that bright, lovely and amazing rose, few tend to be jealous and wish to be like the ROSE, yet not knowing how it grew. This book presents my real life experience and not something that I watched as they play in some American scripted movies or fictional stories. This book reveals unbelievable, sensitive and touching events that actually happened in my life and what I have been through and it is exactly what I had to go through. I do not blame anyone, not even God for that matter. I praise God for giving me such a wonderful story of my life and making me his very own ‘rose’. This book is for everyone who feels like giving up in life as there is always hope of light after every dark tunnel.

About the Author

The Author is the founder of Inhlansi” The Spark” writing club which combines published authors from different places such as Zimbabwe, Limpopo-Venda, KZN, and Gauteng. She is also an Educator by a profession who has taught in several schools and is a passionate writer by heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ukiyoto Publishing
• Release date: Jul 3, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463767764

Book preview

The Rose That Grew From Concrete

Sibongamandla Dlomo

Ukiyoto Publishing

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All global publishing rights are held by

Ukiyoto Publishing

Published in 2019

Content Copyright © Sibongamandla Dlomo

Edited by Khuthadzo Nephalama

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in a retrieval system, in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

All characters in this book are purely fictional.

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated, without the publisher’s prior consent, in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published.

DISCLAIMER

This is a real-life story, some names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals. This is not a work of fiction, all events are true, some names of my family members and friends are real. Some people might find the content of this book disturbing, but the information in this book is meant to motivate, not to hurt anyone or create bad image of certain individuals and organizations.

Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete? Proving nature’s law wrong it learned to walk without having feet. Funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams it learned to breathe fresh air. Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else even cared!

We wouldn’t ask why a rose that grew from the concrete for having damaged petals, in turn we would all celebrate its tenacity, we would all love its will to reach the sun, well, we are roses, this is the concrete and these are my damaged petals, don’t ask me why, thank God.

The seed must grow regardless of the fact that it’s planted in stone. - 2 Pac

Help us to be faithful gardeners of the spirit, who know that without darkness nothing comes to birth, and without light nothing flowers.

-May Sarton

"One day I planted a rose in my garden, because of my busy schedule I forgot about it. It weathered away and showed no sign of life, I gave up and stopped watering it. After a month I visited my garden only to find that rose budding flowers without me watering it."

-Khuthadzo Nephalama

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To my son, Luthando Andile Sibiya, the one whom always when I look at him I see the greatness of God and I start giving the Praise to God, I love you so much. You came into my life and change the way I viewed life, when you grow up, I want you to master the skill of not giving up. I wrote this book to let you know what I went through before and after you were born.

I thank God for being with me through it all; He saw it as a need that one day I may share my experience. To my siblings; Nkosinathi Mthethwa, Bongeka Dlomo, Vela Dlomo and Velile Dlomo. We remained together through thick and thin, and God has taught us to be still and know that he is God. To my mother Mrs. Jabu Madonsela Ndlovu, with you I never felt the gap of not having a mother; you played her role through darkness and in light. My mother’s family, the Ndlovu’s, you are the most loved. And to my father’s family, you are my blood and always will be my blood even though so many stories are untold. But your presence in my life turned me into the person I am today. I would also like to send my love to my friends, my best friends Nozipho Ngema, Phindile Gumede and all my friends especially from the University; Bongeh Qwabe, Sindie Mhlongo Nkosi Bhengu, Veeh Zuma and Thobile ‘Free’ Mbambo. To all the True Vine Community Church Members, the Youth at Darnall and to all the ushers in the ushering ministry, thank you for your presence, without you everything would have happened the other way around, you always inspire me, and all your reasonableness kept me moving and looking for a new day ahead.

To my whole family, thank you for such a wonderful experience, without you I wouldn’t be where I am today. To Mr Gregg McAlpine, besides your financial backup, I thank God for your prayers and your presence throughout my Academic combat. Mrs. Gumede and Pastor Gumede (My parents), you are my sweethearts, I run out of words to express my gratitude. May God richly bless you. When I was hungry I had a team of from student Christian organization that fed me. Mr. Phumlani Mhlongo