Unexpected, Yet Beautiful

In the name of Allah, who is always with people of Patience.

It has been a few days since the day I started to feel so emotionally down and downtrodden due to some things better not said. Or rather, I know not what causes it.

I became oversensitive and mostly I kept myself silent.

It would have been great to have a company, to whom I can tell things and share secrets with, so that I could cheer myself up and forget all worries. But apparently, I have none at the moment. So I bottled things up and keep them inside.

But stress eats ones up from the inside. That's what happened to me. I wanted to scream, I wanted to shout . . . but when the urge came, I kept telling myself this: Dear self, be patient. Allah is teaching you about patience. Fasbir, sobran jameel (be patient, because patience is beautiful).


And today, something unexpected happened. Something that curved my lips and made my day.

I went to teach Form 2 Gemilang today and when I was about to leave the class when I finished my lesson, a student called me out. I went to him and he showed two things (which I'd rather not tell yet what it is) -- one is red, the other one is blue. "Teacher, choose one," was what he said.

"Is that for me?" I asked.

"Yes, bought it from Thailand. For you. Please choose one," he grinned.

"Okay. I like blue; so I'll take that one," I said pointing at the beautiful, little blue thing in his left hand. He put the little blue thing in my hand and I said thank you. He smiled. And I smiled.

The blue little thing . . .

. . . that curved my lips and made my day. :')

So my dear BEC, thank you for that little gift you gave me when I really needed something to cheer me up. It's not your gift that cheered me up, no matter how cute or beautiful it is. It is your thought that made my day. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Really; when you know you are remembered and loved, it will make your day.


And I thank Allah most especially, for sending me this little boy with heart of gold to cheer me up. Allah knows His servants much better than they know themselves. And He knows exactly when and how to console them when they are down.

Sometimes -- perhaps most of the times, the servants are too "busy" whining and complaining that they do not realise that Allah is consoling them with things they never expected.



Did He not promise that He will not burden us with things we cannot bear? And that there will be ease after difficulties?







"Innallaha ma'as sobireen (Verily, Allah is always with people of patience). Alhamdulillah, wa syukrillah."

Between Confidence and Patience

In the name of Allah, the Almighty Creator.

Confidence sure is important. But too much of it is not good. Too much of anything is no good.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said,

"Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately. Always adopt a middle, moderate, regular course; whereby you will reach your target (of paradise)."

[Bukhari]

Too much of confidence may turn ones into a total jerk who thinks too highly of themselves (takabbur) and amazed with themselves ('ujub or self-admiration) -- ones who think no one is better than themselves that they like to look down on other people, make fun and downgrade them all they like. They think whatever they do is right and the best of actions that they question and skeptically comment other people's actions and preferences.

Yet, they get angry and offended when people do the same to them.

Throughout my short life, I knew and encountered a number of people like this. It is always tiring to tolerate them. While I do not mind being looked down and made fun of; I, too, have a certain limit of patience in tolerating such people.

Tell me: What it feels like when people can joke with you and make fun about you, yet you cannot do the same to them? Yes, it is irritating.

That is why I pray that Allah expands the limit of my patience. And more importantly, I pray that Allah will never ever put me in the same group with them. For Greatness belongs to Allah alone and I am merely His servant who has no power nor any strength over anything without His Will and Permission.


"O Allah! Please place me with people of Patience."

Trust Is Earned, You Know

"Trust is earned, not given"

*****

In the name of Allah, in whom I put my complete Faith.

I was writing another entry - a happy entry about some happy, motivating thing when a sad news befell me. I was so upset and frustrated, I burst into rage. It has been sometimes I ever felt this kind of negative emotions.

Yes, I always try to look at things from the most positive ways even when doing so hurts my feelings. But that is okay with me since Allah loves most those who are patient and persevere [QS. 2:45, 3:200].

But today, I just can't keep myself calm when I heard the news.


I forgive you, my friend. But don't bother me for I am mad at the moment, very much I am though I'll cool down very soon. But here are some things, my friend, for you to keep in mind. Maybe a lesson you need to learn?

If you were given someone's trust, hold it close to your heart.
For trust is earned, not given.
If you were given someone's trust, never desecrate it.
For trust is earned, not given.
If you were given someone's trust, honour the trust.
For trust is earned, not given.
Why o why, you ask?
If earning trust is hard,
think again.
For lost trust is even harder to earn.

. . . perhaps some people really need to revise what they have learnt in Human Development (skeptically, I wonder how much they have really learnt?), regarding why did Erikson classified "Trust vs. Mistrust" as the first stage of his proposed, well-known psychosocial development theory.

Just a reminder to you, and to me:

"Whatever misfortune happen to you,
is because of the things your hands have wrought,
and for many (of them) He grants forgiveness."

[QS. Ash-Shura 42:30]

"O Allah for where my soul be kept! I beseech Thee for steadfastness in being honest and humble, and Protection from the Evil One's whispers to break promises and desecrate trust. For I am weak and fragile, I am prone to anger and hatred so with Thy Love and Compassion, I beg Thee for strength to forgive people and myself. O Lord of All in Heavens and the Earth!"