Sonstraaltjie se Eerste WerkieLittle Sunbeam’s First Little Job

Sonstraaltjie word wakker op sy goue wolkie-bedjie.
In sy sagte wolkiesbed rek hy sy armpies uit, en gooi sy goue straaltjies hoog in die lug.
Hy is opgewonde en plesierig! Sy mond rek in ’n glimlag van oor tot oor.Little Sunbeam wakes up on his golden little cloud bed.
In his soft cloud bed he stretches out his little arms, and throws his golden rays high into the sky.
He is excited and full of fun! His mouth stretches into a smile from ear to ear.

Vandag is ’n groot dag; sy eerste werkie!
Mamma Son het gesê:
“Liewekind, jy is nou groot genoeg; om te help met daaglikse takies.
Die wêreld het lig en liefde nodig.”Today is a big day; his first little job!
Mommy Sun said:
“Dear child, you are big enough now to help with the daily tasks.
The world needs light and love.”

Met ’n vrolike swaai, tol Sonstraaltjie sy lysie in die lug rond. Al sy takies vir die dag is netjies daarop geskryf.With a happy swing, Little Sunbeam twirls his little list around in the air. All his tasks for the day are neatly written on it.

In ’n huisie onder op die aarde, sit Bettie regop in haar bed.
Haar krullebol staan soos ’n katjie wat pas ’n haarbol uitgegooi het.In a little house down on the earth, Bettie sits up straight in her bed.
Her curly hair sticks up like a kitten that has just coughed up a hairball.

Sy het ’n nare droom gehad! Een van daardie drome wat stukkende modderspore oor jou hart trap.
Sy voel bang... Sy fluister: “Jesus, help my.” Sy vra dat Hy die slegte drome sal wegvat en haar weer rustig maak.She had a nasty dream! One of those dreams that tramp muddy footprints across your heart.
She feels scared... She whispers: “Jesus, help me.” She asks Him to take the bad dreams away and make her calm again.

Bettie besluit om vars lug te gaan soek.
Net toe sy by die deur uitstap, begin die sonnetjie loer van agter die berg.
Sonstraaltjie onthou:
“Dis altyd my eerste werkie van die dag!”
Hy glip vrolik oor die berg se rand, en dans oor boomtoppe en vensterbanke.Bettie decides to go and look for fresh air.
Just as she steps out of the door, the little sun begins to peep from behind the mountain.
Little Sunbeam remembers:
“That is always my first little job of the day!”
He slips happily over the edge of the mountain, and dances over treetops and windowsills.

Bettie hoor die blare ritsel in die wind en voel dit koel oor haar wange streel.
Sy stap uit die koelte na die son. Dis heerlik, koesterend soos wanneer jou lewe in die skadu was en jy terugstap na Jesus: veilig, warm, vol lig...Bettie hears the leaves rustle in the wind and feels it stroke her cheeks, cool and soft.
She walks out of the shade into the sun. It is lovely, as warm and comforting as when your life was in the shadows and you walk back to Jesus: safe, warm, full of light...

Sonstraaltjie glimlag toe hy Bettie alleen op die koue gras sien, haar arms styf om haar lyf gevou.
Hy draai sy ligstraaltjies soos ’n warm kombersie om haar lyf. Bettie glimlag flou.
Hy sien haar pienk pantoffels is sopnat. Hy blaas en blaas totdat hulle weer droog is.Little Sunbeam smiles when he sees Bettie alone on the cold grass, her arms folded tightly around her body.
He wraps his little rays of light around her like a warm little blanket. Bettie gives a small smile.
He sees her pink slippers are soaking wet. He blows and blows until they are dry again.

Sonstraaltjie het nou behoorlik uit sy skuilplek gekom.
Hy gooi ’n stralende oranje gesig oor die wêreld.
Sonstraaltjie dans tussen die bome se blare en laat die doudruppels soos sterretjies en kristalle glinster.Little Sunbeam has now properly come out of his hiding place.
He spreads a beaming orange face over the world.
Little Sunbeam dances between the leaves of the trees and makes the dewdrops sparkle like little stars and crystals.

Nou moet hy aanstap Oupa en Ouma moet wakker word! Hy glip by hulle kamervenster in.
Binne rek Oupa uit en Ouma begin glimlag.Now he must hurry on, Grandpa and Grandma must wake up! He slips in through their bedroom window.
Inside, Grandpa stretches and Grandma begins to smile.

Sonstraaltjie huppel verder na sy volgende werkie.Little Sunbeam skips on to his next little job.

Kinders buite die skool speel eenbeentjie en hy laat hulle skaduwees dans. Sonstraaltjie kan ook baie ondeund wees.
Soms verberg hy hom agter ’n boom en speel wegkruipertjie. Hulle frons, maar lag tog.Children outside the school play hopscotch and he makes their shadows dance. Little Sunbeam can also be very naughty.
Sometimes he hides behind a tree and plays hide-and-seek. They frown, but they still laugh.

By die rolbalbaan is tannies en ooms vandag maar stadig; totdat Sonstraaltjie opdaag.
Skielik is daar energie, lag en gesels.At the bowling green the aunties and uncles are rather slow today; until Little Sunbeam turns up.
Suddenly there is energy, laughter and chatter.

So huppel Sonstraaltjie heeldag tussen mense, diere en geboue rond. Hy doen elke werkie so goed as hy kan.So Little Sunbeam skips around all day among people, animals and buildings. He does every job as well as he can.

Teen laatmiddag sak Sonnetjie agter Tafelberg.
Sonstraaltjie glimlag: “Ek het my beste gedoen.”By late afternoon the little sun sinks behind Table Mountain.
Little Sunbeam smiles: “I did my best.”

Hy waai met sy handjie totsiens tot môre.
Jesus hoef nooit te wonder of die son sal opkom nie.
Sy lig is getrou. Elke dag. Vir almal.He waves his little hand goodbye until tomorrow.
Jesus never has to wonder whether the sun will rise.
His light is faithful. Every day. For everyone.