On 14 September 2024, eighteen energetic Ligstad aftercare kids visited the ice-skating rink at the Festival Mall in Kempton Park. Seeing the ice rink for the first, sparked an immense amount of joy and excitement. They quickly swapped their normal shoes for a pair of blades and got onto the ice. But then disaster struck. They were falling left and right, feet were slipping all over the place and desperate kids were hanging onto the ice rink wall for dear life. I instantly thought I made a huge mistake bringing them. What if they don’t like it and want to go home right away? What if one of them gets seriously injured? But the day reminded me about a couple of things. When the more experienced kids saw that the Ligstad kids struggled, they instantly offered their help and experience to bring betterment. At first many of the Ligstad kids didn’t want to receive the help, but they soon changed their minds. Although the Ligstad kids were inexperienced, they didn’t give up. They continued moving around the rink even if it meant hanging onto a wall for dear life. Many of the kids showed great improvement in a relatively short amount of time and ended up having a blast. The lesson: Anything new in our lives can be overwhelming and scary. We might find it hard to find our feet and stay upright. But there’s worth in giving it a chance, praying to our Father for help and then push through. Remember that when a locomotive starts moving, it needs a substantial amount of power. But, that is not the same amount of power that will be needed during the entire trip. As soon as the train is moving at a good pace, less energy is needed to keep it there. It is the same with any new venture you take on. Know God in any new action you decide to take. Pray for His wisdom and guidance. Remember Him in the bad times, and don’t forget to thank Him in the good times.
Daniel Viljoen – Ligstad Operations Manager