Face Value

By Tanja De Meillon

A few hard knocks, had me on my knees. Blood, sweat and tears in many cases, but It’s not all bleak and solemn. These are the shadowed bits on the canvas of my life. There are some bright, light and soft colours too, and this book will paint the picture as we gain perspective together.
Hence the name ‘Face Value’. I have realised that we have a number of mirrors in life. These mirrors show us many images. How we see ourselves. How others see us, our friends, our colleagues, our family, our children. How God sees us.
My point is that many times in life we are inside circumstances that seem to overwhelm and have us feel like there is no hope, no end. It will usually feel like this. Reason being, we have lost perspective. We only see a part and not the whole. Perspective is an amazing skill to acquire in life. It’s a knowing that no matter what, there is a bigger picture than the moment. It’s a piece of the puzzle – a chapter in the book of my life. This, has been an anchor to me throughout the many trials of life. I know that the Author and finisher of our lives is in control of every circumstance and every moment and He will complete the good work which He began in us.
As you journey with me through the pages, travel light. You’ll only need my pair of shoes, water (always a good thing) and an open heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing Africa
• Release date: Apr 15, 2016
• ISBN: 9781482862119

Tanja De Meillon

I am forty-two as I write this book. “At last,” many of my friends would say. It has been like a pregnancy (just longer in time frame of nine months). I have felt the need to write down the lessons, hardships, battles, and victories of my life and, in so doing, hopefully aid in the journey of another. On this point, I need to add that I myself questioned who the heck would care what happened to a random and ordinary girl, especially on a global scale! So why write down a single word then? I have learned to follow the Voice in my heart, and for this reason only, I obeyed that familiar voice. Much has happened in the writing of these words within me. This has already rewarded me.

Book preview

Copyright © 2016 by Tanja De Meillon.

ISBN:      Softcover   978-1-4828-6212-6

                  eBook          978-1-4828-6211-9

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 How We Touch One Another

Chapter 2 Touch of Another Kind

Chapter 3 My Ugly-Duckling Tale

Chapter 4 Testing the Waters of Love

Chapter 5 Me, a Swan?

Chapter 6 Love and Marriage

Chapter 7 Death of Loved Ones

Chapter 8 Widowed Too Early

Chapter 9 Our Journeys Don’t Always Make Sense!

Conclusion

To my daughter, Jesslyn Abigail Bothma de Meillon, through whom I am so greatly rewarded. She has forever changed my identity, enriched my life, challenged and grown me, supported me, and is my greatest fan. Thank you, my girl, for walking close beside me while we journey together. May this book act as a shield of wisdom for your walk through life. Learn from it, and choose a path that will take you to the best you can be, a life that gives our Creator glory!

To my family, the pillars that just stay put, immovable, strong, supportive. You have all inspired me in many ways as I have closely watched you, learned from you. I’ve seen you make your mistakes (as you have seen me make mine) but not stay down. I have embraced the family genes and traits (good and not so good) as these symbolise our heritage as earthlings. I am happy that God decided to use you as part of the recipe of my life!

To my brothers and sisters in Christ. We have been woven into this union by our common belief that God loves us, and that we did not need to be perfect in our own efforts in order to receive acceptance. In this manner we love each other – looking past the imperfections – together discovering who we truly are in His eyes and manifesting it as we grow together on this journey. Thank you for always being there to encourage, give direction, pray, and strengthen my faith. I am so grateful to you as family!

To my friends and clients. For many of us, our rendezvous began over twenty years ago, and you have walked through my story with me. You have been shocked, amazed, sad, surprised, overjoyed, stunned, perplexed, satisfied, troubled, confused, certain, passionate, broken, disappointed with me as life unfolded together for us. We have shared new-found wisdom, known the camaraderie of womanhood, helped carry one another’s grief, celebrated our joys, advised one another on family issues, and grown together! You have been my greatest therapy secret—the wise nuggets from your hearts to mine are my treasures forever—and I am forever grateful to you!

To God, in whom I live and move and have my being. You have chosen me. Here I am. Your ever-present, ever-faithful, all-knowing presence beautifully orchestrates my life to fashion it with your will for me. You are only good, and all of life’s pain has not been from you. If it were not for you, I would have curled up into a little ball and disappeared into nothingness. But you kept calling my name, strengthening me, encouraging me, giving me perspective, loving me. You are the god of ‘in spite of’ for me. In spite of how I have messed up, how many mistakes I have made, in spite of the scars that it left, you continually raise me to higher heights and turn a mess into a message and a test into a testimony. You are this book—every word and every page of my life you have known—and I dedicate it back to you for your glory. May it do for many what you have done for me! I love you in spite of my life not always turning out the way I planned. Your purposes will be fulfilled.

Introduction

I am forty-two as I write this book. ‘At last,’ many of my friends would say. It has been like a pregnancy (just longer than the time frame of nine months). I have felt the need to write down the lessons, hardships, battles, and victories of my life and, in so doing, hopefully aid in the journey of another. On this point, I need to add that I myself questioned who the heck would care what happened to a random and ordinary girl, especially on a global scale! So why write down a single word then? I have learned to follow the voice in my heart, and for this reason only, I obeyed that familiar voice. Much has happened in the writing of these words within me. I have already been rewarded for following my heart.

We are so unique, and it’s not so much what has happened in our lives that sets us apart from another but our reaction and responses to what has happened in our lives, which determines the outcome for us.

On a Sunday school camp, when I was barely six years of age, the gospel message really awakened me for the first time. I knew in my heart that I wanted to be friends with the God who made all things. And so my life took on real meaning and purpose and I enjoyed a beautiful relationship with Him. There was much to experience on this journey (fortunately, I did not realize the details yet), but I had ‘friends in High Places’ and so I was ready to be the onward Christian soldier.

Up until the age of twelve until the end of my primary school years, my life was bliss. I remember carefree, happy, confident, exciting feelings within my soul, like life was this adventurous treasure hunt with good things waiting around every corner. I was aware of a magnetic-like echo within me that I was chosen, destined for greatness.

Chosen I was to go on holiday with a friend and her grandparents. This opportunity marked the turning point in my life as a certain experience sent shock waves through my being.

Through the chapters, I will relate some of my life’s experiences, and I trust that you will follow the journey with me to the end in order to see each puzzle piece fitting together.

A few hard knocks had me on my knees—blood, sweat, and tears in many cases—but it’s not all bleak and solemn. These are the shadowed bits on the canvas of my life. There are some bright, light, and soft colours too, and this book will paint the picture as we gain perspective together.

Hence the title Face Value. I have realized that we have a number of mirrors in life. These mirrors show us many images: how we see ourselves; how others see us, our friends, our colleagues, our family, our children; how God sees us.

My point is that, many times in life, we are inside circumstances that seem to overwhelm and have us feel like there is no hope, no end. It will usually feel like this, the reason being we have lost perspective. We only see a part and not the whole. Perspective is an amazing skill to acquire in life. It’s knowing that, no matter what, there is a bigger picture than the moment. It’s a piece of the puzzle—a chapter in the book of my life. This has been an anchor to me throughout the many trials of life. I