Blog:

Tag: god

  • Finishing Strong 💪

    It’s been a hot minute since I last posted on TRM – and as usual, life has been happening.

    February will always carry weight for me.
    It’s my mom’s birthday month – and my late brother’s birthday month as well. Even though he passed away from cancer ten years ago, this month still feels sacred because it marks the gift of their lives.

    Five years later, since mom passed from Covid and the ache of missing her is still very real. But this month also reminds me of something she lived by and constantly reminded us of:

    Finish strong!

    My mom used to say, “Don’t cry for me when I’m gone. I finished my race.”
    And she did.

    These past months have tested me in ways I never expected – financially, emotionally, spiritually. There were moments where I felt exhausted, overwhelmed, and unsure how I’d keep going. But every time I wanted to give up, her voice echoed in my heart: finish strong!

    Not perfect.
    Not without scars.
    But faithful.

    This season has reminded me that finishing strong doesn’t mean life was easy – it means you didn’t quit when it was hard. It means trusting God even when the road feels lonely. It means laying down your burdens and letting Him carry what you were never meant to hold alone.

    Today, I choose to honour my mom not with tears alone, but with obedience, resilience, and faith. I choose to finish strong – for my children, for my purpose, and for the God who has carried me through every season.

    Scripture from God’s word

    “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
    — 2 Timothy 4:7

    This scripture isn’t about death – it’s about faithfulness.
    And it’s a reminder that no matter how hard the journey gets, God strengthens us to finish well.

    TRM – The Right Mindset | The Real Mom

  • “When the Bully Smiles for the Principal – but God Still Sees”

    ✍️ I recently sat in a parent meeting where the principal told me that the boy who’s been bullying my daughter is “a good boy.” His father said the same – and I don’t doubt that’s the side of him they see.

    But what they don’t see are the moments when no adults are watching – the whispers, the stares, the cruel laughter, and the isolation my daughter faces daily.

    That’s the side my little girl has to live through.I’m not here to tear anyone down, but to shed light on the truth: sometimes the hurt happens in the shadows, while the world sees a smile.

    Here are the promises of God’s word that I cling to as a mother and a woman of active faith:

    God fights for the oppressed:

    “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” – Exodus 14:14

    God is close to the brokenhearted:

    “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18

    God turns evil into good:

    “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.” – Genesis 50:20

    God strengthens and restores:

    “After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace… will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” – 1 Peter 5:10

    God brings justice in His time:

    “No weapon formed against you shall prosper.” – Isaiah 54:17

    💛 Praying that God changes hearts, especially the heart of the child leading the bullying – and fills them with love, compassion, and empathy. Only He can do it.

    To every parent and child going through this: your pain is real, your tears are seen, and your God is more than able. Stand in faith, love fiercely, and keep trusting Him.

    🙏My prayer isn’t for punishment – it’s for transformation. That God would reach into that boy’s heart, and the hearts of every child caught in this circle, and replace cruelty with compassion.

    Because only God can change hearts, and my faith tells me He will. 🙌

  • Silent Prayers – Loud Pain

    I haven’t written in a while.
    Life’s been heavy.
    I’ve been following the heartbreaking case of Jayden Lee Meek – the 11 year old boy found dead outside his mother’s flat. And like many of you, I’ve been deeply affected. As a mother, I can’t understand how a child could leave this world like that… alone, hurt, and betrayed by the one meant to protect him most.

    At first, I thought, No… this can’t be real. Not his own mother.
    But as more lies unravel and disturbing details come to light, my heart just breaks more. Not just for Jayden – but for every child whose pain goes unseen.
    And still, as much as my flesh wants to scream for justice and answers, my spirit whispers, Lord, have mercy.

    “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
    — Psalm 34:18

    I haven’t been praying like I used to. I’ve felt dry. Empty.
    But I started again.
    When I couldn’t find the words, I asked the Holy Spirit to intercede.
    And He did.

    “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us…”
    — Romans 8:26

    Because God has still been good to me.
    My baby girl is doing so much better – by His grace.
    And I can’t forget that.

    Even in my silence, I’ve been praying… for Jayden.
    For Tiffany Meek, his mother.
    For truth to come out.
    For justice.
    And even more, for mercy.

    Because no matter how broken someone is – only God can reach into that place. And if He doesn’t… the cycle just repeats.

    “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
    To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.”
    — Micah 6:8

    It’s been story after story lately – mothers hurting their children, failing them in the worst ways.
    Another mother giving her child drugs through broken glass.
    And the case of Joslin Smith – sold for R20,000 to a sangoma. For her eyes. Her golden skin.
    Lord, have mercy.

    “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
    and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
    Though she may forget, I will not forget you!”
    — Isaiah 49:15

    This is not the world I want my children growing up in.
    And it reminds me why I love children the way I do.
    Why my yard is always full of giggles and little feet.
    Why I give out ice pops, marshmallows, and space to just be kids.
    Why I taught Sunday school just to be close to my son.
    Why I pray.

    “Children are a heritage from the Lord,
    offspring a reward from him.”
    — Psalm 127:3

    Lord, protect the children.
    Especially in South Africa.
    Put angels around them.
    Raise up mothers who will stand in the gap.
    Raise up communities that will not turn a blind eye.
    Raise up healing – even in the midst of horror.

    And please, Lord…
    Have mercy.

    #JusticeForJayden
    #LordHaveMercy
    #ProtectOurChildren
    #RealMomRealHeart
    #MothersWhoPray
    #FaithOverDespair
    #SouthAfricaNeedsHealing
    #InnocentLivesMatter
    #HolySpiritIntercede
    #BrokenButPraying
    #ParentWithPurpose
    #StopTheCycle
    #TRMTheRightMindset
    #RaisingHope
    #ChildrenAReminderOfGodsLove

  • 💙 In memory of Jayden Lee Meek 🕊️

    A Mother’s Pain: Reflections on the Jayden Lee Meek Murder TrialI’ve been following the heartbreaking murder trial of a 31-year-old mother in Johannesburg, South Africa. From the moment I started watching the news coverage, something inside me ached deeply. The images that formed in my mind as the story unfolded in court were, to say the least, gruesome. Yet, beyond the horror of the case, I found myself drawn to the woman at the center of it all — a mother trying to be strong, fighting back tears, visibly shocked and lost, as if she were wondering if this nightmare was somehow not real.In today’s world, it’s so easy for social media to jump to conclusions — to judge quickly and to throw stones without knowing the full story. But as a mom, I can’t help but feel her pain. Regardless of guilt or innocence, that pain is hers to carry for the rest of her life. I can’t begin to imagine what it must feel like to sit in a courtroom, being judged by so many, while trying to grasp the reality of what has happened.Watching her as a real mom, all I feel is sadness. I see regret in her eyes, and I believe that she is also a victim in this tragedy — a small piece of something much bigger. I want to believe she was trapped in a toxic relationship, caught in a cycle of manipulation and pain. I know what it’s like to live with a narcissistic partner, to be gaslighted day after day, and the kind of emotional prison that can become.I pray for justice to be served for Jayden Lee Meek. But I also pray for mercy and healing for Tiffany Meek, his mother. I want to believe that she sits there, full of remorse and regret, no matter what her circumstances might have been. This story is a painful reminder that behind every headline is a human soul, broken and struggling, longing for peace.In our own lives, especially as moms, may we always choose empathy over judgment, and faith over despair. And may we remember that healing often begins when we open our hearts to understanding the complexity of pain and the strength it takes just to survive.

    #TheRightMindset #TheRealMom #TRM #JaydenLeeMeek #JusticeForJayden #MercyAndHealing #MothersPain #EmpathyNotJudgment

  • God answers in His time – Our Crohn’s journey!

    My last blog post was on June 1st, 2025. It feels like forever ago. So much has happened since then. I’ve been contemplating whether to share something deeply personal – my daughter’s health journey. The truth is, I had never even heard of Crohn’s disease until it entered our lives. And while I’ve wrestled with the need to protect my baby girl’s privacy, I also know this: I can’t truly call myself The Real Mom if I only share the polished parts of our story. Because this is part of my truth: watching my child suffer in ways I never imagined. And it didn’t start with Crohns. It started on June 25th, 2021 – the day my mother passed away from COVID-19. That day shifted everything. Not long after, my daughter and I both contracted the virus. And from that point on, life felt like a rollercoaster we never signed up for – a downhill one. Since then, hospital admissions have become our “normal.” We’ve been admitted at least fifteen times – maybe more. I’ve watched my daughter endure relentless pain, face uncertainty with courage, and hold onto life with everything she has. For four years, we were in and out of hospitals. Different doctors. Different opinions. But no real answers. One said it was IBS. Another blamed her diet. Then came H. pylori. And the list went on. Each time, we walked away more frustrated, more heartbroken, and more desperate for clarity. Until the day we met her gastroenterologist – January 29th, 2025. That was the day everything changed. In just one day, he made the diagnosis: Crohn’s disease. Since then, my daughter has been on steroids and is currently on chronic medication to help manage it. It hasn’t been easy, but at least now we know what we’re fighting. And I thank God. I thank Him for answering my prayer as a mom – even though it took four long years. If there’s anything I keep learning, it’s this: God answers – in His time. And while His timing doesn’t always make sense to us, it’s always perfect. That’s part of the reason I’ve been quiet here. Life happened. Again!!! We recently had my baby discharged from hospital. This time, she stayed in for five days – a big difference from past admissions where she’d stay up to a month, undergoing all kinds of investigations and procedures. But even in the quiet, I thank God. I thank Him for carrying my daughter through every hospital bed, every sleepless night, and every whispered prayer through tears. I thank Him for giving us the grace to press on as a family. For never letting go – even when I felt like I was. One thing I’ve learned (and keep learning) is that God is faithful – even when we’re not.

    Even when the tunnel is dark and endless, He is still there. He carries me. He carries her. Teaching my daughter to have faith has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done – especially when I’ve found myself questioning God. But this I know: I don’t need all the answers. I just need to trust the One who already knows the end from the beginning.

    So I’m sharing this, not for sympathy, but for you – someone who might be in your own tunnel right now. You’re not alone. God is still God. And faith – raw, messy, real faith – is what carries us through.