Showing posts with label muslim. Show all posts
Showing posts with label muslim. Show all posts

Sunday, June 29, 2014

TWINS!


Could it be that every time I get pregnant I return to blogging? Well, the short answer is Yes!

When a woman is pregnant it’s like her whole life flashes before her eyes. Lots of questions and fears and excitement culminate inside of her. There are the life questions: What have I accomplished in all these years I’ve been on Earth? Who am I? Have I lost my identity? Do I enjoy my life? Then there are the mommy questions: Am I ready for this [again]? Do I have enough love inside me to spread it among all these people? Have I failed the children I already have? Is this physically possible? And then the spiritual questions: Why did Allah choose me to have these children, at these ages, at this time in my life?

So I know you’re waiting for me to address the title. The answer is Yes, TWINS! At my 20-week ultrasound the sonographer candidly announced that the ultrasound would take twice as long because she had to evaluate TWO babies. I almost choked on my own tongue.

I looked up at the monitor and sure enough there were two little heads. And four arms and four legs and twenty fingers and toes. I was in utter shock, yet I was completely elated. It was a secret childhood fantasy of mine to have girl/boy twins. But in the fantasy those were my only children… Hahaha, jokes on me! But seriously, I was happy, I couldn’t stop giggling and saying “Are You Serious!?” Then I would say Alhamdulillah and Allahu Akbar under my breath. I knew this was a major blessing.

So much to say… I don’t want to write a super-long blog, but . . .

like I said, there is just so much on my mind. For starters, I’ll describe how I’m feeling right now at 27weeks 4days: heavy, uncomfortable, tired, tight, stretched to the max, PAIN, foggy, unattractive, useless, and tearful... and HOT! It’s okay, don’t rush me to the ER or the psyche ward! I don’t feel like this all the time. Sometimes when I’m feeling really down, I will get an Angel message. What is an angel message?

The little old pale woman with the white hair approached me in the supermarket yesterday. I was in pain from my huge protruding heavy belly and the blood was rushing out my brain, making the room spin. I was praying just to make it out of the ACME on two feet.

“You are ready!” she exclaimed. Everyone has been saying this to me lately. Even through my large draping dresses, people can see that my belly is huge and low, this would usually indicate a woman in close to birth.
“No.” I slowly shake my head and grin. “I’m only seven months. I’m having twins” I prematurely chuckle because I’ve said this to so many people lately that I’m anticipating her surprised reaction.

“Oh my! Two?” she uncurled two shaky wrinkled fingers to affirm she heard correctly. When I nodded yes, she leaned in closely and told me her story. She had two children by the time she was 40 years old and then got pregnant again. She went into labor and delivered her child only to her the most devastating words any mother can hear after giving birth. Stillborn. After the doctor sadly reported the news, he looked her square in the eye and said, “You will have another child.” Three months later she was with-child again and gave birth to her last child, her first boy. After telling me this story she looked me in the eye and said,

 “God is with you. Don’t ever think he isn’t. I realize now that I wasn’t supposed to have my third child with me. That child went straight to God. God is with you always. Everything will be fine. God Bless YOU.” And she slowly pushed her cart down the dairy aisle. And I wanted to cry. Thank You Allah. Thank you for the Angel message.

Sometimes these messages come from family and friends. Just simple texts telling me I’m beautiful. How did you know I was feeling low? A tight hug from my husband that lifts me out my seat, relieving my pain for those few seconds. My children telling me I’m the best mom ever. How did they know I was feeling like I was letting them down because I really can’t do much these days?

Angel messages are how I describe those little and big signs of divine affirmation, telling us everything really is okay. More than okay, our lives, even our trials are divine and blessed. So be grateful!

“Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear…” (Qur’an, 2:286).


Sunday, December 12, 2010

St. Jude Children's Hospital


So I woke up around five-o-clock this morning wedged in between my toddler and a cold wall. I had to go the bathroom, but I did not want to leave the comfort of my warm bed. As I paused for a moment, the raspy sound of an old woman's voice came drifting from the television I had forgot to turn off before I fell into my deep slumber.

Squinting my eyes, I looked on the screen and saw a three year old boy named Reagan. He was diagnosed with childhood leukemia and passed away eleven months after being admitted to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. I began to feel very sad. I looked over at my little one, sleeping so soundly, with not a care in the world. Then I thought, "That could be my child in that hospital. That could be Ruki."

And the tears came flowing down my tired face.

I imagined myself being some billionaire philanthropist and giving St. Jude's, or any other children's hospital, a million dollars or more. But I am not a philanthropist, I am just a writer. So, today I am writing to urge everyone to donate your dollars and your prayers to sick and needy children wherever they may be. Don't wait for a tragedy to happen to you or someone you love to start caring. Care now. Give now.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

THERE IS A GOD!!!!



As I nurse my beautiful 5 month old daughter, I think to myself, wow, how is this possible? You know . . . all of it, the whole thing. How is it that I can be the sole source of nourishment for another human being? But it's not just nursing; it's the love. How is it that I have developed a love for this crying, spitting, screaming, pooping little person? And not just any love, an unexplainable, impenetrable, everlasting love. I mean I would give my life for her without giving a second thought, but perhaps more importantly, she makes me want to live my life better. She makes me feel like I have to do better for myself- spiritually, financially, and academically- for the sake of her. Why do us mothers- and many fathers- have these feelings? I mean, okay she grew inside of me for nine months, but so what?

I think the miracle of childbirth continues far beyond those strenuous hours of labor. Sometimes I will look over at her and she is just gazing into my eyes, far longer than any teenie bopper couple trumped with infatuation. THIS IS LOVE. THIS IS GOD. It is moments like that when I know with complete certainty that there is a God. An All-Knowing, Most Beneficent, Most Gracious God. Who else could have created this love that surely no human could even fathom before they experience it for themselves.