I am filled with sadness today, even though in some ways we lost this amazing man months ago. But I am also filled with gratitude and hope, for what he showed us we are all capable of.
My friend Lara summed it up perfectly: “He carried so bright a light, I hope we honour him by keeping it burning, each of us, with just a spark of his integrity, commitment, decency, humility and true compassion for all.”
RIP Madiba.
Nice piece of work 
I thought of you when they announced his death on the news. The world lost a very great man, his was a Light unrivaled. My condolences.
Lara just posted this comment, the truth of which is so enormous that it’s almost too hard to grasp:
“So much happening in one lifetime. I remember the first time I sang Nkosi Sikeleli Afrika, on UCT campus in an End Conscription Campaign meeting in the ’80s, a little fearful of being ‘illegal’, having to read the words from a printed sheet .. and now my sons are singing it in the livingroom watching the news of Mandela’s death – they know every word. We would never have got here without Mandela.”
She’s right. We really wouldn’t be here like this without him.
Down here in Australia, we heard the news a little earlier, when the rest of the world was mostly asleep. Nkosi sikilel’ iAfrika indeed, she’s lost a voice of moderation, of forgiveness and of hope, and she needs our prayers now. It’s strange, but I feel he had a message for everyone, even though first and foremost, he was yours…
He was everyone’s. :-) Feels like one of the last giants has left us…. :(
Tata Madiba!
:-) x
I heard this news last night before I went to bed. I thought of you too. He was an amazing inspirational man, but what I like best is that at the same time as being amazing and inspiring he was incredibly normal, if you see what I mean.
Totally normal, no pretentiousness whatsoever. We both used to buy shoes from the Rustenberg Shoe Salon, down the road here in Rondebosch! (different styles, of course).
What a man! xxx
South Africa and the world has lost one of the most inspirational humans to have ever lived.
Oh Jill! I thought of you when I heard the news that he had passed away. So sorry for South Africa’s loss. Love and Hugs, Tamara
I’m so sorry… I thought of you when they announced his death yesterday here, in Brasil. He is a great man, a wonderful person. I”m sorry for South Africa’s loss, for World’s loss. Hugs from Olga.
Still, the news hit me hard.
Hug for you Jill.
RIP Mandela….
What a lovely post . . .
thank you for this post Jill and very sad to have lost him