Renew your mind and focus on the good
There isn’t a single person that wouldn’t identity with this non-fiction, particularly the majority who come from what we as South Africans would call “emakhaya” – “home” in the Eastern Cape. Generally speaking, life can be tough for one, but you’d find that the worst that could happen in one’s life seems inevitable for those who are not from well-off families, those with an impoverished background.
Here is Ncumisa, born and raised in Qumbu village, in the Eastern Cape, having been exposed to circumstances that were not in her control, which changed the course of her life and unfortunately greatly affected her decisions negatively in that she had to face the resulting consequences. From an age as early as 11 years old, she experienced the most gruesome experience any innocent girl could ever endure, one that tarnished her dignity. She only escaped when circumstances allowed her. Imagine being under a circumstance that you cannot escape from, especially as a child – what do you do when you can’t even recognise that what is being done to you as an 11-year-old shouldn’t be?
In the end, with all that had transpired, Ncumisa’s disappointment, discouragement and misery led her to prayer and including God in her life consistently. God pulled her out of it all, simply through a book.
With so much going on, especially with the current pandemic, we can only imagine what many may be going through. And just like Ncumisa, 1 book – perhaps this book – may just be the beginning of a positive shift of mindset. Let these words of the subtitle of this book linger in your thoughts as you come to completion of reading this book review: renew your mind, focus on the good.