Chris van der Westhuizen

(’n Gedig van dankbaarheid aan God en my vrou)

Ek dank U, Here, vir U asem van genade,
wat my opgewek het uit skaamte en dood.
Toe sonde my siel in kettings wou hou,
het U my gees met U lig kom omvou.

U’t my nie verwerp toe ek val,
maar liefde gefluister in my hel.
U’t my bevry, my stem herstel,
sodat ek kon kies en waarheid vertel.

En jy, my vrou - my lig, my krag,
het staande gebly in jou donker nag.
Jy’t liefde gekies waar ander sou vlug,
en vasgehou toe alles verbrokkel en breek.

Hulle het gesê jy moes my verlaat,
maar jy’t vasgehou - teen elke raad.
Nie gedryf deur vrees, of trots, of skaam,
maar gelei deur geloof, in Jesus se Naam.

Ek het die kruis gesien, daardie las wat jy dra,
en het jou liewer gekry - nog meer daarna.
Toe jy om drie-uur my naam roep, sag,
het ek geweet: jou hart het steeds krag.

So dankie, Here, vir tyd en genade,
vir genesende hande en versagte harte.
En dankie, vroulief, vir liefde en trou -
my krag is gevind deur jou.

                              Chris M. v/d Westhuizen '2009

Thank You for Grace

(A poem of gratitude to God and my wife)

I thank You, Lord, for mercy’s breath,
That raised me from my shame and death.
When sin had chained my soul in night,
You pierced the dark with holy light.

You didn’t scorn me when I fell,
But whispered love within my hell.
You broke me free, then gave me voice,
To speak Your truth, to make the choice.

And you, my wife - my saving grace,
Who stood, though shattered, in disgrace,
Still held to hope when all seemed lost,
And bore love’s weight at such a cost.

They said I’d fail - you should let go -
But you held on and chose to go slow,
Not driven by fear, or pride, or shame,
But led by faith in Jesus’ name.

I saw the weight, the cross you bore,
And loved you deeper than before.
When at 3 a.m. you called my name,
I knew your heart still held a flame.

Thank You, Lord, for second starts,
For healing hands and softened hearts.
And thank you, love, for being true -
My strength was found through you.

                              Chris M. v/d Westhuizen '2009 (Translated from Afrikaans)