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Woman pens experience of overcoming tragedy

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After Thando Jonas experienced the tragic loss of her husband a few years ago, she decided to write a book to help others through her lived experience.
After Thando Jonas experienced the tragic loss of her husband a few years ago, she decided to write a book to help others through her lived experience.
Photo: Supplied

A Kariega woman’s life completely changed when her husband was brutally murdered in 2021, and she was left to raise her four children all by herself.

Thando Jonas went from living a comfortable, stable life with her family, to being left destitute after losing her husband. “My life as, I knew it, changed,” she said.

The trauma she and her children faced was something she did not think they could ever recover from. “My four children and I witnessed their dad being murdered, right before our eyes. That experience left me and the kids depressed; at some point we were destitute,” Jonas revealed.

Left alone with her children, the newly single mother had nowhere to turn, no aid coming her way, and no hope for the future. But a year later, she decided to write a book about her experience, and named it, Grace Found Me in My Brokenness.

Jonas said, 

The book is about the traumatic experience my kids and I went through. From witnessing their father’s brutal attack to being destitute with nobody to help us. Everyone deserted and rejected us. But then in the midst of it all, while we were rejected by family and friends, God showed up and restored my life and my kids’ lives. In the midst of grief, pain, loss and trauma we found love in God and His Grace was upon us. Today I bear testimony that God is alive and faithful. He revealed Himself to me and my kids.

Careful not to let out any spoilers, Jonas explained that the aim of the book is to motivate anyone going through some difficulties to look at things differently because of the experiences she shares in her book. “It is meant to encourage people who have lost hope. It will also help people strengthen their faith in God because faith helped me stay strong and overcome all the attacks and challenges. Hope and faith kept me alive,” she said.

“Challenges are not permanent, they reach an expiry date and that is when God shows up and turns things around. Just when all hope is gone, God steps in. He did it for me and my kids, and He shall do it for everyone believing in Him. People need to give each other love and support. Families are selective with who they want to support and neglect those they don’t want to support. I know this because my kids and I went through it. We do not trust family anymore because they threw us into the wilderness but God protected us,” Jonas concluded.

The book was published earlier this month, and is available at all Bargain Books, Exclusive Books and Greenhorn Books stores. Jonas is set to officially launch her book at the Bargain Books store in Corkwood Mall, Kariega, on March 2, at the Boardwalk Mall on March 16, and lastly at the Exclusive Books store in Walmer Park on March 30. For more information or book orders, contact Jonas via WhatsApp on 079 323 2745.

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