Written by: Sophia Roman
Article source: JOY! Magazine
Tough times can be unbearable, yet God uses difficult circumstances to make us grow and to bring us back to Himself. Shelley du Plessis lost her mom at only one month old, and was reared by her precious grandmother. Constance Coetzee, now 83-years-old, has been a constant in Shelley’s life. Constance’s son Joshua lived in the house and when Shelley was growing up he was not only her uncle, but her father figure, brother, and role model. Shelley accepted the Lord as a young girl as she saw granny serving Jesus whole-heartedly – a true woman of prayer and faith.
Jarred, Shelley and Jonah du Plessis and Granny Constance Coetzee
Survivor’s guilt
Shelley is married to Jared – the love of her life – and their son Jonah is her everything. A few months ago both Shelley and the Director of the company where she worked contracted Covid-19. On the day she was hospitalised, her boss was diagnosed with Covid. Shelley’s fight to live cannot be described – prayers covered her, but the near death experience in hospital was the darkest place. The sight of seeing others in the same ward wheeled
out as corpses was unbearable. She struggled with only one lung as the other collapsed. It was dark.
“My message of hope is that God never abandons you.”
Uncle, father figure Joshua Coetzee with granny
“My message of hope is that God never abandons you.”
Family anchor
There was granny, the family anchor, not tech-savvy at all. Constance had to learn to use her phone optimally to be in touch with Shelley. The daily WhatsApp messages never stopped, nor did the video calls with prayers. Sometimes the calls came while the doctors surrounded her bed, and she had to let granny know to call later. Depression was real; feeling despondent that granny herself may not make it through this tough time. Shelley’s thoughts of growing up without a mom and thinking of 5-year-old Jonah, who may have to experience this too, became a reality. Thoughts that Jarred may be without his wife. She prayed harder than she ever had before, and rededicated her life to Christ.
Three weeks later, after a long and difficult time in hospital, Shelley was discharged. On the same day, it was her boss’ funeral. The deep sadness of not being able to attend his funeral left Shelley at a loss for words. She felt as if she was not there for him, his family, or her colleagues. Why did she make it? And he had to die? The guilt was overwhelming.
Shelley and Granny
Second chances
“I had gone astray and failed God,” Shelley said. “My message of hope is that God never abandons you. God gave me a second chance in life. I had to learn to walk again. There is hope to bring your joy back. Live life to the fullest and count your blessings.
“I had gone astray, but in my failing God, He was still there and brought me through. My time in hospital – being all alone not having my family with me – made me put my trust in God again. I prayed like never before. I am thankful each day for my breath, my life, and hope again.” God gave her a second chance to start fresh. “New beginnings can only come from God. I invited Jesus back into my life.”
A newfound calling
Shelley shared how she had to go back to the drawing board, and saw how God had given her talents and gifts that she had neglected over the years. She reflected on how she had put her work and others first, while neglecting her calling. Today she is back helping young girls, teaching them to dance. She does this cautiously as her lungs are still getting stronger. He is the God of new beginnings and another chance.
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Date published: 09/01/2022
Sophia Roman – Pioneer, visionary, and life transformation coach. Sophia and her husband Theo pastor the West Reach AOG Church in Mitchells Plain.
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