29 THINGS I HAVE LEARNED AT 29!

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On the 16th of July (Friday), I turned 29. I never thought I would be this short, slender, and mostly single at 29 L😂L. I thought I would be married with a kid or two, living in a mansion with my loving husband in an amazing neighborhood but many are the plans in a man’s (Proverbs 19:21 ) so, here I am. I might not be where I once dreamed to be but I am in a better place than I could ever be if things had worked out the way I had planned. So, I am grateful they didn’t. I’m patiently waiting for the appointed time, which I know will surely be perfect because God’s timing is perfect!
So, let’s get into it:

1. GOD IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL
   There is nothing before or after God. He is the standard and that’s that on that! Humans may come up with better things and more sense but there is nothing above God. It’s Him alone, always has and always will be!
2. SALVATION IS PERSONAL
   I always thought PKs, those in leadership or ministry are perfect so if they fail to do certain things then who am I not to fail to do those things. God had to deal with me accordingly and tell me that saying so and so did it or so and so failed so I failed too or I did it too won’t be a reason enough because salvation is between me and God and no one else.
3. KNOWING GOD FOR YOURSELF IS A MUST!
   There are times where other people’s revelations of who God is won’t work for you, in those times you will need to dig in deep and find out who God is to you personally. So, having a personal relationship with God is your own responsibility. Know God for yourself, have a personal relationship with Him. When the go gets hard, you will surely have something to hold on to because you know your God!
4. IT’S OKAY NOT TO BE OKAY!
   I once thought being a Christian means you always have to be okay. Mentally, spiritually, physically, emotionally, etc. I was kinder convinced that if you are not okay in any of these areas then there is something wrong with you. It could be that you are being punished so you need to repent. But, I learned that’s not true. We meet God at our weakest point, many met God in their deep muddy clay cause that is why He came down so He can lift us. It’s okay not being okay but don’t stay there rise because God came to lift you.
5. GOD IS IN CONTROL!
   I love being in control. I love knowing what is happening now and what will happen next. I love being kept in the loop or just being on track with everything but God, God had to show me who’s the boss. Lol, as hard as it is but it had to happen at some point I had to be reminded that God is in control and I need to surrender to Him and let Him take the wheel. God knows everything so surrendering to Him is the best I have ever done for myself.
6. GOD LOVES ME!
   I have struggled with this one for years because I would look at my life and compare it with everyone’s life around me and then conclude that no man, God loves everyone else except me. The truth is God gives us things according to His plan and will. The word of God says, He has great plans for our lives, plans to prosper us and not to harm us (Jer. 29:11). He knows what is best for me and when it’s best for me, I should wait for His appointed time.
7. EVERYONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS!
   I use to feel so much guilt for people’s actions especially my siblings, friends, and the young people God entrusts me with. If someone does something wrong or unethical, I use to feel like I didn’t do enough as a sister, friend, or whatever. Not realizing that God warned this person first before I did and this person didn’t listen to God so who am I?
8. GOD LOVES MY FAMILY, FRIENDS, MY LOVED ONES, ETC. MORE THAN I LOVE THEM! my family, friends, my loved ones,
   I have had a thing of thinking I can try and save my loved ones or take care of them and make sure that all is well with them until God reminded me that giving them to Him to be the one who takes care of them is the best choice ever because He loves them more than I do and He knows way better.
9. What is mine will never miss me!
   I have learned that I don’t need to fight for what is mine. It will look for me and find me wherever I am. You can sweat and fight for many things and still miss it but what is yours will sweat and fight just to locate you and be yours just like God planned beforehand.
10. THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME (FOR ME)!
    Not that I didn’t know this, it just makes so much sense as I grow older. A few years back a child from my aunt’s in-laws stayed at home and once in a while Id hear her singing: ayikho into eyogqitha ikhaya lakho [ there is no place like home]. Child, home can be a shack with no warm blankets or food but there is no place like home. When all the troubles and cares of the world become too much, I know I can always run home to find peace and stability. Home is the only place where you will forever be loved and welcomed regardless of your situation!
11. YOU NEED COMMUNITY, YOU ARE NOT AN ISLAND!
    I know people who act as if they need no one, deep down they know that they need family, friends, community, etc. We were made for such. When God said it’s not good for a man to be alone, He didn’t only mean it in the context of a spouse but also friends and family. I don’t understand people who don’t have friends especially close friends who do you share your moments with? Who do you take naps with, who do you binge-watch series with but mostly who do you pray with? Guys, you need friends, you need community!
12. LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE!
    Laugh, it’s good for your whole being. I love laughing and I am blessed with siblings who are comedians, my siblings are the best and laughter is a sure thing whenever I am with them, I always laugh and it makes my heart so happy. I also happen to be blessed with crazy friends who will make me laugh until my stomach hurts. You deserve that!!
13. PLAY, DANCE, SING. DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO, EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT GOOD AT IT. WE ARE IN NO COMPETITION!
    Life is too short not to sing, dance, or play when you feel like it. Do it! If you feel like throwing your arms around and screaming out loud in the middle of town do it, dance, clap, just live! So, that one day when you leave this earth, everyone will attest to the fact that Thandile lived.
14. LET GO OF THE “BAZOTHINI ABANTU” SYNDROME!
    People always have something to say, always! Do what makes you and God happy. If it’s in line with God and His will do it. Everyone will adjust!
15. YOU CAN NOT POUR FROM AN EMPTY CUP!
    Being a blogger and a radio personality means I constantly have to pour to people in writing and speaking. That means I have to constantly go to God and ask Him to feel me up to the brim so that I can share with people from the overflow. I take time and allow God to feel me up in different ways and it keeps me going!
16. JESUS TIME IS VALUABLE!
    Jesus’ time is basically taking to spend time with God in prayer, worship, praise, reading the word, meditating, etc. It’s taking time out of your busy schedule to listen to what Jesus is saying to you about everything and actually living according to it.
17. SELF-LOVE IS OF IMPORTANCE! i
    The word of God says; “love your neighbor as you love yourself” meaning I can’t love my neighbor if I don’t love myself. It has to start with me loving myself and then I can be able to love the next person since my neighbor can be anyone that I meet.
18. THE BEST PLACE TO LEARN ABOUT LOVE [even self-love] IS IN GOD!
    The word of God says; “God is love” [1 John 4:8] Meaning I can never know how to love myself and everyone else outside of God. For me to learn about love and to be found in love, I need to be in God at all times!
19. CONFIDENCE IS GOOD AND ALL BUT GODFIDENCE OVER IT ALL!
    Godfidence simply means putting your trust and hope in God more than in your abilities, capabilities, and all. Just completely relying on God for it all!
20. KNOW YOUR WORTH!
    Male species happen to be the best people who know their worth. This other gender doesn’t stand up or put up with anything they don’t like, ababekezeli they leave and that there is self-worth. They know that they are worth more than that so if you don’t treat them the way they know they are supposed to be treated they leave, they don’t stick around but us women it’s a different story. Well, I am a different kind of woman, a woman of God who knows that her worth is in Jesus Christ and I am worth more than rubies!
21. I AM BEAUTIFUL, JUST THE WAY I AM!
    There is a saying that says; “beauty is the eyes of the beholder.” I don’t care what anyone else thinks or see but when I look at myself I don’t only see the goodness of the Lord, or the love of Christ personified, I also see a beautiful woman whom I love the most! Ngimuhle!
22. I DONT NEED A MAN, I WANT ONE!
    [I am sorry mom😂] but growing up we have been made to believe that we as women need a man to live but I don’t need one, I want one. When I get married one day in God’s appointed time I will have a man because I wanted a man not because I needed one. If God doesn’t bless me with a husband then I will live without a man because to me a man is not a need but a want. Yes, there will be times when I wish I had someone to talk to, someone to share my day with but that doesn’t mean I can’t live because I don’t have that someone. I believe men ill-treat us because they think we can’t live without them, well I can! I just don’t want to hence I am praying that when the time is right may God please bless me with one! 😂😂.
23. KINDNESS IS A NEED!
    Besides the fact that kindness is part of the fruits of the. Spirit. It is a necessity for the human race. We are all going through something, we are fighting a battle that the next person knows nothing about. So, kindness is what we all need!
24. YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD TO START OVER!
    No matter how far away you have gone, you can always turn back and start over as long as you will be starting with God this time around. It’s okay to start over as long as you are starting over with God!
25. THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN SALVATION!
    I haven’t really tried many things but from where I am standing, salvation is the best place one could ever be. There is fullness of joy, peace, love, understanding, you name it konke konke this side,
26. GOD IS FOR ME MORE THAN ANYTHING!
    Everything that God says He says it because He loves me and He has great plans for me and my love as a whole. I only need to trust Him and do as He says!
27. IT’S WORTH THE WAIT!
    If God says wait, just know that it’s worth everything and all things in between. So, wait upon the Lord!
28. THE BIBLE IS THE ONLY BOOK THAT HAS EVERYTHING PERTAINING TO LIFE!
    I am a reader and I love reading. One thing I have realized is that there is no better book than the Bible and every book written is the paraphrase of the Bible because the Bible has it all!
29. I CAN’T DO THIS LIFE THING WITHOUT GOD!
    The older I grow the more I realize that God is my all and I can never do a thing without Him!

That’s was long lol, I’m sorry but I hope you enjoyed reading it and mostly learned something or two from it. Thank you so much ❤