Chrissie, my dear mother-in-law, has an allotment near their home in Wallington, in the UK.

They don’t have gardens like we do in SA, so the allotment is where they get to plant a few veggies and fruits. Chrissie has a wonderful selection of potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, and a strawberry patch.

Strangely, the birds don’t destroy the fruit. My mind boggles at the analogy I draw between life in SA and a simple patch of strawberries.

I started off picking the stunning red berries, only to be attacked by a hidden patch of stinging nettles. I was told the pain was okay because the nettles help with arthritis.

No, it hurts—and it’s unpleasant.

But then I got over myself and filled a bowl with berries.

The message?
No matter how dark the night, the sun will shine.

You see, you can turn anything into a teaching moment.

I hear the voices of my boys:
“Is Dad at it again?”

Yes—find the positives.