René Roberts

What a crazy time to be alive!

That man with the terrible hairstyle and strange complexion is at the helm of what is considered to be the most powerful country in the world. The United States of America is slowly but surely regressing to the conservative nation it once was. Bigotry is rife and minorities are deeply concerned and anxious in that country.

Even the elite community of Hollywood is in turmoil as women who have been suffering from abuse are finding the courage to speak up. Careers spanning so many years are being destroyed, and in some cases, celebrities that we have been putting on pedestals are found to be despicable human beings with feet of clay.

On home soil, it seems that our former president allowed the unconscionable Guptas to influence some major decisions that he was trusted to make, leading the country into a darkness that it’s now slowly emerging from – not without consequence. Corruption is at the order of the day and every citizen of this country is feeling insecure and overwhelmed.

The tourist Mecca of South Africa, the Western Cape, is under immense pressure caused by a water shortage. While some provinces are being blessed with rain in abundance, the Western Cape, who is in dire need of rain, is parched. Fanatical religious leaders are urging the people of the Western Cape to repent, as if a loving God would ostracize a selected community and punish them exclusively. What is probably meant to inspire trust in a godly force, now inspires doubt.

Among all of this chaos and insecurity, your Mommy rubs her hands across her swollen belly. You can probably feel a pleasant tingling down your spine – I can tell, because it makes you squirm and we take such delight in watching the tiny ripples across your Mommy’s belly.

I don’t know where things are heading with Trump or if there ever will be justice for what the Guptas did. I don’t know what the solution is to the water crisis either, but I think you might find some comfort in the things that I do know.

I know that you have the most beautiful little sister that lights up a room with her presence. She has a huge personality in a tiny little body and she demands attention like you can’t believe. She likes dressing up like the princess she is and she has bucket loads of energy. Her smile can make the sun break through the clouds on the bleakest of days.

I know that you have a loving, extremely supportive and hands-on Daddy that will sacrifice anything to make sure that all of your needs are met. He is always there to wipe away tears, allows your sister to paint his nails, and has a bottomless well of patience. He is a man that you will be very proud of and if you just follow in his footsteps you will inherit an arsenal of tools that will allow you to stand out among the crowd. Try and dress like Daddy too – he’s quite stylish. Just pay attention to how he treats your Mommy and follow suit.

I know that you have a Mommy with superpowers! She knows exactly when your sister is up to no good and she can sense when Daddy is planning a golf day. Be careful around her – she knows things. She also happens to be utterly devoted to her family and she does everything in her power to ensure that you and your sister will have everything that your hearts may desire. She’s not the most vocal woman on earth, but pay attention, because her hugs and cuddles will do the talking. Her devotion knows no bounds and in her, you will always find a soft landing.

I know that you have wonderful grandparents. There is no doubt in my mind that they would lay down their lives for their grandchildren and are all so excited to meet you! They raised amazing children, so if you need to tap into some wisdom, they are your best bet. Pay attention to how Mommy and Daddy treat them and follow suit.

I know that you have the coolest aunts and uncles ever. They will shower you with love and attention and make you feel welcome in their company. Your aunts are all inspiring in their own way and there is so much to be learned from them. They were all blessed with supportive husbands and you will always be among great men.

You see, the truth is that things will always go wrong in this world. There will always be destructive, selfish presidents. Natural processes aren’t flawless. Rainfall patterns are out of whack and global warming is wreaking havoc. These are all things that are not under our control. Nothing is perfect. The key is to shift our focus to things that don’t petrify us. The reality is that in the darkest of nights, there is always a glimmer of light.

There will always be people brave enough to dedicate their lives to exposing corruption. There will always be people selfless enough to become the voice for those who are not strong enough to do it for themselves. There will always be people considerate enough to inspire generosity in hopeless situations.

In your life, my little boy, there will always be the McCutcheons, Annandales, Friebes, Venters and the Hunters. There will also always be the Niebertse.

There will always be hope, love, and the knowledge that in the end, everything works out imperfectly fine.