In the still of the night

'le Robale ga botse'. That’s what Martha and I say to each other most nights. It means 'good night and sleep well'. Though sometimes I have to wonder how much sleep Martha gets. She's such a busy body. I’ll often phone her at nine at night and she’ll still be up – working on the jobs for the next day. She doesn’t always like to let on that this is what she is doing because she knows I worry about her. She says she loves doing it with all her heart because it keeps her mind from wondering. I haven’t asked her about Emanuel in a little while but I bet this is who she wonders about.

I guess, in the stillness of the night – under the African night sky – it’s hard to escape ones loneliness and the sadness of losing a son. I also think about Matapelo alone with her two children after recently losing her mother and her husband. Madala down the road, who lost his wife last month after 40 years of marriage. Our lovely lady, lying in bed worrying about her health and her future.

In the cold light of day the reality of life in a little rural community is filled with a lot of sadness and pain. I guess that's why Heartfelt is something Martha cares about so deeply. It's where the ladies can share their heartfelt stories and she feels like she is not alone. I do often wonder if once all the work has been packed away and Martha is lying in the quiet of her bedroom she says ‘le robala ga botse’ to Emanuel before falling asleep every night? So that when she wakes - she can start her day with love in her heart.