THEY say couples are often so engrossed in preparing for the wedding, they forget about preparing for the marriage.
The same could be said of the present hive of activity as the country prepares for Mandela Day activities and festivities on 18 July.
Each year since 2009, on Madiba’s birthday, the occasion honours his legacy by promoting community service both here and internationally.
The Zululand Observer is, along with our partners, this week frantically finalising our plans for our annual ‘Hang out with Madiba’ washing lines, to which the public is invited to bring warm clothes and blankets for the needy.
There is a lot of preparation to be done, and it’s easy to lose sight of the real meaning of the day while doing all the ‘busy work’.
After all, it’s not about clothes, blankets, wash lines and pegs – it’s about a wonderful human being whose spirit of goodwill we are trying to perpetuate.
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela emerged from a lowly Transkeian village to climb the highest international stage after orchestrating possibly the world’s greatest ever regime change.
Many today might shake their heads in shame and embarrassment on seeing the behaviour of his political descendants in terms of the state capture annals.
They might wince at watching how the shining post-democracy potential of the rainbow nation has all but rusted without a leader of his calibre.
But nobody can deny his lasting legacy in terms of still being able – nearly six years since his passing – to mobilise goodwill and summon benevolence from the citizens of the land of which he was so proud.
His inspiration remains: the mere mention of his name tugs at the hearts of the population, and urges them to give to others.
He is more than a symbol of non-violent resistance and the anti-apartheid movement; he was a human being who taught us all how to become better people.
And if there’s one thing we can do to make his heart happy, it would be to do a good deed for others.
Even today, Nelson Mandela is a uniting force and a beacon of light and hope in the midst of all the turmoil.
The future is uncertain, but one thing is sure: Madiba Day will continue in perpetuity, for such was the nature and legacy of this great man that his standards will pass the tests of time.
