Don’t give up

Two years ago,  a wonderful woman dear to my heart by the name of Avriane Maritz blessed me with a basil and rocket plant. The aroma of the basil plant was breathtaking. I was excited and looking forward to a long relationship with it. Basil needs enough sunlight and fertile soil to grow nicely. One day I took both plants outside for some sunlight, and to cut the story short, rats ate my plants. I was so angry. The basil and the rocket she gave me were both gone. For weeks I could not even tell Avriane.

I decided that I will never grow herbs that rats eat. I will only grow herbs that repel rats, for example, Rosemary, Lavender, Mint, Sage, and Thyme. That would deal with those rats!!!!! I thought. Yes, the rats did not eat my herbs anymore, but I had given up on planting something that would probably bring me lots of joy.+

A year later,  Avriane blessed me with yet another basil plant. I am thankful for her patience. It was wintertime, and I kept it on my window seal for the winter period. I must mention that opening the window every morning and the fresh air coming into the house with the basil aroma was heaven.
Spring came, I took my basil plant outside. Instead of planting it in the backyard garden, I planted it at the front. I had learned my lesson from the previous incident. 2019-2020 was a good basil year for me.
I enjoyed a lot of tasty meals, basil pesto, lemon basil chicken, the homemade pizzas. I dried my basil for winter use and even made compound butter. I have even propagated new plants from the old plant that Avriane gave me. My elder brother visits time and again to get some basil. I have learned that basil is an easy-growing plant. As long as it gets enough sunlight, good soil, and enough water, then it will keep growing.

Moral of the basil story: never give up, when you get something wrong or fail, it does not mean you will never get it right. Be patient with yourself and put those failures to good use. A wise person once said the word fail stands for


F- First
A- Attempt
I- In
L- Learning.


Sometimes it’s not only the first, but the second, third and fourth attempt that we fail, and its starts making giving up an option, but as long as it’s an attempt in learning (correcting and perfecting the skill) then it’s worth another try. Don’t give up!


have I not commanded you to be strong and be of good courage
Joshua 1:9


Be strong and be courageous and try again!!