—by Sophia Roman
T
messages never stopped, nor did the video calls Shelley du Plessis with prayers. Sometimes the calls came while the doctors surrounded her bed, and she had to let granny know to call later. Depression was real; feeling despondent that granny herself may not make it through this tough time. Shelley’s thoughts of growing up without a mom and thinking of 5-year-old Jonah, who may have to experience this too, became a reality. Thoughts that Jarred may be without his wife. She prayed harder than Survivor’s guilt she ever had before, and rededicated her life Shelley is married to Jared – the love of her “My message of hope to Christ. life – and their son Jonah is her everything. is that God never Three weeks later, after a long and diffiA few months ago both Shelley and the abandons you.” cult time in hospital, Shelley was discharged. Director of the company where she worked On the same day, it was her boss’ funeral. contracted Covid-19. On the day she was The deep sadness of not being able to athospitalised, her boss was diagnosed with Covid. Shelley’s fight to live cannot be described – prayers cov- tend his funeral left Shelley at a loss for words. She felt as if she was ered her, but the near death experience in hospital was the dark- not there for him, his family, or her colleagues. Why did she make est place. The sight of seeing others in the same ward wheeled it? And he had to die? The guilt was overwhelming. out as corpses was unbearable. Second chances She struggled with “I had gone astray and failed God,” Shelley said. “My message of only one lung as hope is that God never abandons you. God gave me a second the other col- chance in life. I had to learn to walk again. There is hope to bring lapsed. It was dark. your joy back. Live life to the fullest and count your blessings. “I had gone astray, but in my failing God, He was still there and Family anchor brought me through. My time in hospital – being all alone not There was granny, having my family with me – made me put my trust in God again. the family anchor, I prayed like never before. I am thankful each day for my breath, not tech-savvy at my life, and hope again.” God gave her a second chance to start all. Constance had fresh. “New beginnings can only come from God. I invited Jesus to learn to use her back into my life.” phone optimally to be in touch with A newfound calling Shelley. The daily Shelley shared how she had WhatsApp saw how God had given her t ssis Ple du ah Jon and lley Jarred, She over the years. She refle and Granny Constance Coetzee her work and others fi her calling. Today she i girls, teaching them t this cautiously as her lu stronger. He is the God and another chance. ough times can be unbearable, yet God uses difficult circumstances to make us grow and to bring us back to Himself. Shelley du Plessis lost her mom at only one month old, and was reared by her precious grandmother. Constance Coetzee, now 83-years-old, has been a constant in Shelley’s life. Constance’s son Joshua lived in the house and when Shelley was growing up he was not only her uncle, but her father figure, brother, and role model. Shelley accepted the Lord as a young girl as she saw granny serving Jesus whole-heartedly – a true woman of prayer and faith.
Uncle, father figure Joshua Coetzee with granny
Shelley and Granny
SOPHIA ROMAN – Pionee and life transformation coa and her husband Theo pas Reach AOG Church in Mitch
TESTIMONY
“God gave me a Second Chance in life!”
