My Only Daughter is 6 Today

Dear Diary,

A birthday wish to my princess - NUR ZARRA ZULAIKA

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAYANG

I am very blessed to have you in my life. You're such an angel always trying your best to please everybody. You're an obedient, brave, helpful and reliable daughter. You set a good example to your little brother. You fancy everything beautiful. You love make-up, books and swimming.

My prayers are with you always and forever. May you have a wonderful life, may you grow into being a solehah muslimah, may success be with you in every step of the way.

I LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART

Dedication To All Mothers

Dear Diary,

DEDICATED TO ALL MOTHERS

She works 24 hours a day,

She's a Mum,

She's an alarm clock,

A cook, a maid,

A teacher, a nanny,

A nurse, a driver,

A handyman, a security officer,

A photographer, a counselor,

She doesn't get holiday, sick pay or days off,

She works through the day and the night,

And gets paid in hugs and kisses.

Quoted from Islam For Kids' Facebook

M-O-T-H-E-R

Dear Diary,

"M" is for the million things she gave me,

"O" means only that she's growing old,

"T" is for the tears she shed to save me,

"H" is for her heart of purest gold,

"E" is for her eyes, with love-light shining,

"R" means right, and right she'll always be,

Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER",

A word that means the world to me.

Quoted from Islam For Kids' Facebook

The Shoes

Dear Diary,

It was a long, hard winter. Sadi was very cold because his shoes were worn and they let the water in. For the first time, he was sorry that his family was very poor. He thought how nice it would be if they had enough money to buy a thick coat and some good shoes.

One day Sadi was returning from school with his bag in hand. He stopped before the central mosque just as the azan for afternoon prayer was being called. Sadi liked to pray in the mosque, so he went into the courtyard and walked up to the fountain to perform his ablution. He left his school bag and rolled up his sleeves. He knew almost everyone who was performing ablution there. He sat at a fountain and took off his shoes. His socks were dirty and wet. Angrily he threw one of his torn shoes on the ground. Then he saw a man performing ablution next to him. This man washed one leg and then stood up. Sadi noticed that the man had only one leg.

Now he was embarrassed. He had been worried about his shoes, but that man had only one leg. Maybe he had a lot of money to buy shoes; but money wasn't everything. After completing his prayer, Sadi began to pray to Allah, raising his hands high. He thanked Allah for his strong legs.

** Hadith **

"Always be content with less. Then you will be the best at thanking Allah."

Source: Islam For Kids' Facebook

Cycle of Life

Dear Diary,

My dear girl, the day you see I'm getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I'm going through. If when we talk, I repeat the same thing a thousand times, don't interrupt to say: "You said the same thing a minute ago" ... Just listen, please. Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same story night after night until you would fall asleep.

When I don't want to take a bath, don't be mad and don't embarrass me. Remember when I had to run after you making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower when you were just a girl?

When you see how ignorant I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don't look at me that way ... remember, honey, I patiently taught you how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair and dealing with life's issue every day ... the day you see I'm getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I'm going through.

If I occasionally lose track of what we're talking about, give me the time to remember, and if I can't, don't be nervous, impatient or arrogant. Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you.

And when my old, tired legs don't let me move as quickly as before, give me your hand the same way that I offered mine to you when you first walked. When those days come, don't feel sad ... just be with me, and understand me while I get to the end of my life with love. I'll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared. With a big smile and the huge love I've always had for you, I just want to say, I love you ... my darling daughter.

Original text in Spanish and photo by Guillermo Pena.

Translation to English by Sergio Cadena.

Source: AARP's Facebook

Burned Biscuits

Dear Diary,

Another beautiful story to share...a lesson we all should learn

BURNED BISCUITS

When I was a kid, my Mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! All my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my Mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that ugly burned biscuit. He ate every bite of that thing...never made a face nor uttered a word about it! When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my Mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said, "Honey, I love burned biscuits every now and then."

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Mom put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides - a little burned biscuit never hurt anyone!"

As I've grown older, I've thought about that many times. Life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults and choosing to celebrate each other's differences is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing and lasting relationship.

And that's my prayer for you today...that you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal breaker! We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship! "Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket - keep it in your own." So, please pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burned one will do just fine. Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Source unknown

Need Washing

Dear Diary,

An inspiring story shared by a friend...

NEED WASHING

A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence.

It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there, under the awning, just inside the door of the Wal-Mart. We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day.

I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

Her little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in, "Mom let's run through the rain," she said.

"What?" Mom asked.

"Let's run through the rain!" She repeated.

"No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom replied.

This young child waited a minute and repeated: "Mom, let's run through the rain."

"We'll get soaked if we do," Mom said.

"No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.

"This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?"

"Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, if God can get us through this, He can get us through anything!"

The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one left. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say.

Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

"Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If God let us get wet, well maybe we just need washing," Mom said.

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They got soaked.

They were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories. So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories every day.

To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven. I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.

Quoted from 95.7 KJR's Facebook