Briesie Kry ’n Belangrike WerkBreezy Gets an Important Job

Dit is skoolvakansie. Lielie en haar neef en niggie kuier by Ouma Annie. Ouma maak ’n blink voorstel: “Kom, kleinspan, vandag gaan ons die speelgoedkas regpak.”It is the school holidays. Lielie and her cousins are visiting Granny Annie. Granny has a bright idea:
“Come, little ones, today we are going to tidy the toy cupboard.”

Die kinders pak blokkies, karretjies en poppe in die speelgoedkas. Ouma help ook, almal werk saam. Briesie sweef bo hulle, nuuskierig en liggies ongesiens. Sy waai oor die kamer en tel ’n sagte lap-pop liggies op. Briesie sit dit mooi in die kas neer.The children pack blocks, little cars and dolls into the toy cupboard. Granny helps too; everyone works together. Breezy floats above them, curious and gently unseen. She blows across the room and gently lifts a soft rag doll. Breezy puts it down neatly in the cupboard.

Haar gesiggie straal van trots en blydskap: “Ek help ook!”
Vrolik en besig werk hulle saam, en maak dit pret.Her little face shines with pride and joy:
“I am helping too!” Cheerful and busy, they work together and make it fun.

Toe hulle klaar gewerk het, trek Ouma haar rooi gespikkelde voorskoot reg. Sy skuif haar geliefde stoel nader en gaan sit.
“Kry elkeen ’n kussing en kom sit hier, my kinders,” sê Ouma Annie…
“Vandag wil Ouma vir julle van die verskillende winde vertel.”When they have finished working, Granny straightens her red spotted apron. She pulls her favourite chair closer and sits down.
“Each of you get a cushion and come sit here, my children,” says Granny Annie…
“Today Granny wants to tell you about the different winds.”

“Nou,” sê Ouma, “al hierdie winde bly saam in ’n geheime plek daar hoog in die hemel; in die Woud van Wind.”
“Weet julle, liewe kindertjies, daar is winde wat God gebruik vir baie belangrike werkies. Hulle is gehoorsaam aan Hom, en doen net wat Hy sê.”“Now,” says Granny, “all these winds live together in a secret place high up in the sky, in the Forest of Wind.”
“Do you know, dear little children, there are winds that God uses for very important little jobs. They obey Him, and do only what He says.”

“Suidooster wind, of soos ons hom noem, Die Kaap se Dokter, is baie sterk. Wanneer hy waai, ruk hy sambrele uit mense se hande en Ouma se wasgoed van die lyn af!”“South-easter wind, or as we call him, The Cape Doctor, is very strong. When he blows, he snatches umbrellas out of people’s hands and Granny’s washing off the line!”

“Stoutgat Sarel, die warrelwind, is ’n ondeunde outjie wat graag rondomtalie waai. Speelgoed wat rond lê, waai hy hoog in die lug op!”“Naughty Sarel, the whirlwind, is a mischievous little fellow who loves to blow round and round. Toys that lie around, he blows high up into the air!”

“En dan is daar nog Speelse Anna, ’n wind van die Suide,” gaan Ouma aan.
“Sy is ’n sagte windjie. Sy fluister soos ’n mamma wat haar babatjie sus.”“And then there is also Playful Anna, a wind from the South,” Granny goes on.
“She is a soft little wind. She whispers like a mommy who hushes her baby.”

“Woeste Willem, die Stormwind raak soms so bietjie windmakerig en kwaad.” glimlag Ouma, “dis hy wat alles stukkend ruk en bome omwaai.”“Wild Willem, the Storm Wind, sometimes gets a bit boastful and angry,” smiles Granny,
“it is he who tears everything to pieces and blows trees over.”

“Warm Wikus, is die Somerson! Wikus en Somerwind is groot vriende. Saam smelt hulle kindertjies se roomys en kry lekker as dit op die grond val.”“Warm Wikus is the Summer Sun! Wikus and Summer Wind are great friends. Together they melt little children’s ice creams and have fun when it falls on the ground.”

Die kinders sit regop, hul oë groot soos pierings, en skuif nader.
“En dáár, my liewe kindertjies, woon daar ook ’n klein windjie met die naam Briesie…”The children sit up straight, their eyes as big as saucers, and shuffle closer.
“And there, my dear little children, there also lives a small little wind with the name Breezy…”

Sy is die kleinste van almal, en die ander het haar soms uitgeskel omdat sy te sag is. Briesie het in die kleinste boompie gewoon. Sy het soms gehuil wanneer Stormwind haar afjak: “Jy’s nie sterk genoeg nie,” sou Stormwind blaas.She is the smallest of them all, and the others sometimes called her names because she is too soft. Breezy lived in the smallest little tree. She sometimes cried when Storm Wind snapped at her:
“You are not strong enough,” Storm Wind would blow.

Maar Briesie het altyd geglo dat God haar vir iets besonders gemaak het. Sy het rustig tussen die blare gefluister, en kinders se haartjies gekielie wanneer hulle buite speel.But Breezy always believed that God made her for something special. She whispered calmly among the leaves, and tickled children’s hair when they play outside.

Soms vou sy sommer net ’n blom se kroonblaar toe en blaas dit oor iemand se wang; net om hulle te laat glimlag.Sometimes she simply folds a flower’s petal closed and blows it over someone’s cheek, just to make them smile.

Elke oggend kyk Briesie om haar rond. Die groot winde snork nog. Die wolke draai stadig in hulle slaap. Selfs die voëltjies het nog nie begin fluit nie. Dan sak Briesie stadig nader aan die aarde toe.Every morning Breezy looks around her. The big winds are still snoring. The clouds turn slowly in their sleep. Even the little birds have not started to sing yet. Then Breezy sinks slowly closer to the earth.

Die vroeë oggendluggie speel deur die blare. Takkies wip in die wind. Dis ’n simfonie; en Briesie is die dirigent.The early morning air plays through the leaves. Little twigs bob in the wind. It is a symphony, and Breezy is the conductor.

Sy waai verder en sien ’n spinnekoppie wat sukkel om sy web droog te kry. Briesie blaas liggies; die druppeltjies val soos blink pêrels af.
“Ag dankie, Briesie!” roep die spinnekop.
“Dis ’n plesier,” antwoord Briesie.She blows on and sees a little spider who struggles to get his web dry. Breezy blows gently; the little drops fall off like shiny pearls.
“Oh thank you, Breezy!” calls the spider.
“It is a pleasure,” answers Breezy.

Toe sien sy ’n huilende kindjie wat nie kan slaap nie. Briesie gly saggies deur die venster en waai koel oor die kind se wangetjies. Die kindjie glimlag en raak rustig.
“Jesus se windjie het jou kom troos,” fluister die mamma en trek die kombersie sag oor die kindjie se voetjies.Then she sees a crying little child who cannot sleep. Breezy glides softly through the window and blows cool over the child’s little cheeks. The little child smiles and grows calm.
“Jesus’ little wind came to comfort you,” whispers the mommy and pulls the little blanket softly over the little child’s feet.

Maar toe… kom die belangrikste dag in die geskiedenis! Baie vroeg die volgende môre, nog voor die son sy kop uitsteek, word Briesie wakker. Sy vryf haar ogies en wonder hoekom dit nog so vroeg is.But then… comes the most important day in history! Very early the next morning, even before the sun sticks out his head, Breezy wakes up. She rubs her little eyes and wonders why it is still so early.

Toe onthou sy! Vandag is ’n groot … baie belangrike dag! In die verte hoor sy ’n groot geraas …’n Groot skare het vergader. Soldate skree, mense huil, en swaar kruise word op ’n heuwel opgerig.Then she remembers! Today is a big… very important day! In the distance she hears a loud noise… A big crowd has gathered. Soldiers shout, people cry, and heavy crosses are set up on a hill.

Jesus, die Seun van God, word aan ’n houtkruis vasgespyker. Die lug word donker. Die aarde beef. Die hele skepping hou asem op …Jesus, the Son of God, is nailed to a wooden cross. The sky grows dark. The earth shakes. All of creation holds its breath…

En dáár, in daardie heilige oomblik, hoor Briesie ’n fluistering uit die hemel: “Briesie,” kom die stem van die Vader, “dis nou jou tyd.”
Briesie huiwer nie. Sag en eerbiedig gly sy deur die skare, reguit na die kruis toe. Hy streel Jesus se bebloede voorkop, en droog die trane wat van Sy oë rol. Toe Jesus Sy laaste asem uitblaas, is dit Briesie wat dit saam met Hom — opneem en hemel toe dra.And there, in that holy moment, Breezy hears a whisper from heaven:
“Breezy,” comes the voice of the Father, “now is your time.” Breezy does not hesitate. Softly and reverently she glides through the crowd, straight to the cross. She strokes Jesus’ bloodied forehead, and dries the tears that roll from His eyes. When Jesus breathes His last breath, it is Breezy who takes it up with Him and carries it to heaven.

Briesie se hart is baie seer en sy is nie lus om terug na die woud toe te gaan nie. Vannag slaap sy net hier langs Jesus se graf.Breezy’s heart is very sore and she does not feel like going back to the forest. Tonight she sleeps right here beside Jesus’ grave.

Vroeg Sondagoggend word Briesie wakker van ’n sagte geluid wat sy hoor. Sy hou haar asempie op, en luister mooi. Briesie kan haar oë nie glo nie! Sy sien Jesus uit die graf kom! Jesus glimlag vir Briesie en sy waai vir Jesus totsiens. Die graf is leeg. Jesus het opgestaan!Early on Sunday morning Breezy wakes up from a soft sound that she hears. She holds her little breath, and listens carefully. Breezy cannot believe her eyes! She sees Jesus come out of the grave! Jesus smiles at Breezy and she waves goodbye to Jesus. The grave is empty. Jesus has risen!

Later die dag bak Ouma pannekoek vir die kindertjies. Sy vee stilweg die sweet van haar voorkop af. Briesie glip vinnig by die venster in en vee saggies oor Ouma se warm gesig. Ouma glimlag en sê: “Sjoe, hoe lekker koel is die briesie wat nou by die venster in kom.”
“Daardie dag het Briesie ’n werkie gedoen wat geen ander wind kon doen nie,” sê sy sag.
“God het haar gebruik om vir Jesus sag af te sluit … met liefde en eerbied.”Later that day Granny bakes pancakes for the little children. She quietly wipes the sweat off her forehead. Breezy slips quickly in at the window and wipes softly over Granny’s warm face. Granny smiles and says:
“Phew, how lovely and cool is the breeze that now comes in at the window.”
“That day Breezy did a little job that no other wind could do,” she says softly.
“God used her to gently say goodbye to Jesus… with love and reverence.”

“Welgedaan, klein Briesie,” sê die groot wind — en knipoog vir haar. Van daardie dag af doen Briesie haar bes om net goeie dade te doen, oral waar sy gaan. Briesie glimlag in haar windhart.
“Ek is maar klein, maar ek het ’n belangrike werkie gedoen,” fluister sy en waai dan stadig hemel toe.
“Gelukkig is die kind wat op die Here vertrou en geduldig wag.”
Die kindertjies sit stil. In hulle harte weet hulle!“Well done, little Breezy,” says the big wind, and winks at her. From that day on Breezy does her best to do only good deeds, everywhere she goes. Breezy smiles in her wind heart.
“I am only small, but I did an important little job,” she whispers, and then blows slowly to heaven.
“Happy is the child who trusts in the Lord and waits patiently.” The little children sit still. In their hearts they know!

SlotgedagteClosing thought

Jy hoef nie groot of sterk te wees om iets besonders vir Jesus te doen nie. Selfs ’n sagte windjie kan ’n boodskap van liefde dra. Die Here gebruik elkeen – klein of groot – om Sy lig te wys.You do not have to be big or strong to do something special for Jesus. Even a soft little wind can carry a message of love. The Lord uses everyone, small or big, to show His light.