Community appreciates caregiver
We take a look at the life of Linmeyer resident, Mariaan Smit as a caregiver.
Mariaan Smit (65) was born and raised in Kimberly in the Northern Cape. She spent 18 years of her life there and reminisces about a happy childhood when elderly people would often bring her flowers or sweets and always did good things for others.
Mariaan has been a caregiver all her life and takes pride in looking after the elderly and giving back to the community. She takes care of many in and around the South The CHRONICLE team heard her story and felt compelled to share the story of her life to inspire others.
“I think it was because my mom was a nurse and was also involved with old age homes that I became involved as well. Looking back, I see that giving care was my calling,” said Mariaan.
Work as a caregiver
This remarkable and selfless woman of God now resides in Linmeyer and became involved in home care at a later stage in her life but believes the Lord has planned this for her life. Mariaan attended Newton Primary School and Hoërskool Adamantia in Kimberly. After school she worked for 25 years in various government departments.
“I received tertiary training in law while I was a senior admin clerk at the Supreme Court at the Department of Justice in the Northern Cape division. I also did intensive training in hospice work and acquired a diploma at the theology department of The University of Stellenbosch. I studied the interpretation of the Bible,” she said.
All of her work and studies prepared her for becoming a caregiver. She felt a sense of success but still felt a void. She was determined to become more involved with the elderly people around her.
An emotional calling
The widowed mother of three sons and three grandchildren reflected on how difficult it was to raise her sons alone after her husband of ten years passed away. When Mariaan’s youngest son completed school, she decided to become more involved in hospice work. This led to her being more involved in home care of the terminally ill.
“This calling is very emotional and difficult. I see it as ministry, not a job. One must have the personality to do this successfully and one needs to have a love for other people’s patience, humility, empathy, sympathy and contentment,” she said.
Mariaan emphasised that caring for others gives her great pleasure because it enables her to contribute towards the quality of someone’s life. She especially loves helping the elderly gain and keep their dignity.
Mariaan wants to travel overseas one day and extend her passion to those who need it in other parts of the world. If you would like to contact Mariaan or help her with her endeavors, then contact her on 082 667 8580.
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