    |  Melanie Jacobs“Just because you’re alive, doesn’t mean you’re living” These words echoed so clearly through my mind as I sat In Pretoria’s 17:00 traffic. I was looking at the people around me. We all sat there in our own cars, busy with our own thoughts and feelings. I saw how downcast and well... angry people seemed. To me sitting in traffic was a dream comes true! For years I wished and cried at God’s feet to be so faithful to give me back a sense of independence... traffic solidified that independence for me! And as I sat here looking at the people around me, I wondered how someone who has everything I ever dreamed of (Having a body that listens to your commands, not being in constant pain and being able to wear normal shoes!) How does one have everything other person dreams of and look so unaware of the blessing and joy that you find in life! Even in traffic! It’s my sing along / prayer / and the best opportunity to smile at people place! J When I was 15 I was given the wrong medication. I was a very active athlete, dancer and super healthy, fit teen. Within a month symptoms started and within a little more than a month I was confined to a wheelchair, both feet and left hand turned in at a 90 degree angle and weighing a severely underweight 30kg’s. The Doctors had no idea what was actually wrong and they had informed my mother that I would never see my sweet 16. I was dying. God gave me word that I will walk again in that first year in the wheelchair in 2003. Being confined to my wheelchair and room those first years gave me the opportunity to get to know Jesus in a way I never imagined. I looked back at my life and just understood things about life, God and your attitude towards life, love and the people surrounding you that I never did before! I started talking at churches and woman conferences at 16...in the wheelchair. To share the amazing things I learned. Today 15 years, 30 operations, learning how to walk and how to adapt to “ Mel 2.0 ” again I am a living, breathing example that miracles do happen! Perhaps not the exact way we imagine but God is a good and faithful Father! I have a immeasurable passion to share my story...to yes...”expose” some of my deepest and darkest hours to motivate and install a sense of hope! Regardless of what situation or state of mind we always have a choice to grow through trials! My passion to teach young girls their worth in a society that places all emphasis on the outward and the physical grows every day. We are losing a generation of beautiful young women to overwhelming shame, lows self esteem and just not feeling good enough! We always have a choice with how we chose to live our life! I choose to love unconditionally! That means taking two minutes out of your day at the grocery till, petrol station or shop to stop and truly care about the people around us! I cannot describe the absolute transformation when you stop and ask someone how their day has been, what their name is and what time they will be heading home! People are hungry for love! Why are we holding back? Why do we choose to be angry, to withhold love, to judge? I ask these questions when I go and speak at churches, schools and events. Footprints of faith is my platform for sharing my story, answering questions about life issue’s on the footprints of faith YouTube channel. |
Telephone: 071 365 0255
Email : footprints.mel@gmail.com
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Email : footprints.mel@gmail.com
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Youtube: https://youtu.be/S4XzK7ou7eY