Assalaamu alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
Over this summer we have had some mammoth hail storms, maashaa Allah. Twice we had baseball sized hail come thundering down, breaking windows, giving the siding on the house and our cars that dimpled golf ball effect. The second hailstorm, however, was followed by something altogether different. While we do not live in an area that is prone to any natural disasters, we had a tornado sweep through our area. This was a reminder that it doesn't matter where you live, even if it seems to be the safest, most secure place in the world, there is no way to escape Allah and what He, subhaanahu wa ta'ala, decrees for you. Two old travel trailers were completely decimated, the shipping container office was tipped over, 1650 gallon water tanks were hurled miles down the road, broken to pieces to be seen in fields and pastures afar.
The things we lost were things that had been left to go to ruin - unfinished projects, like nearly everything on our land and in our lives. And the thing that was damaged was filled with things, purchase after purchase, stuff upon stuff.
I thought to myself, we can amass as much as we like, shop till we drop, accumulate, plan to fix up, beautify... but it can be gone in a minute. So, think if it's really worth it. Do what matters, do what will always remain for you if nothing physical is left.
Alhamdulillahi Rabb il aal ameen for all the signs, reminders, and warnings He, in His infinite Mercy, sends us!
Subhaaka Allahumma wa bihamdika, laa ilaaha il ant, astaghfiruka wa atoobu ilayk.
Subhanallah, you always give me so much to think about. I was delighted to find these newest posts because there was so much to reflect on in them.
ReplyDeleteWe're so driven, often with the best of intentions, by our own desires, by external pressures, to do more, plan more, BE more. Abandoning our big plans so often feels like failure, and if those plans are blocked seemingly by the actions of others, resentment can follow as well. As I've grown older, so many goals that once seemed imperative have fallen by the wayside. What's wonderful is that I can now say, "who cares? It wasn't meant for me to do." That's not to say I've lost all motivation and sit like a lump, but it's certainly easier now to see what matters.
Yes, maashaa Allah, it's all about priorities - how we determine them and why we set them. I am witness to people with so many things they want to get done that they are like a cook with 16 pots they want to put on 4 burners. For me, it's important to focus on one thing, one critical and important thing, and get it done completely. Only then do you move on to the next thing.
DeleteIt's so important to ignore doing things that are socially expected or acceptable and, rather, think of what is needed, what works, what will still matter after a year, a decade, and after your death. All of this with the clear guidance of Allah, subhaanahu wa ta'ala.
I read a little saying that it isn't what you do for your children that is your legacy, it's what you teach them to do for themselves. What a powerful statement, especially in Islam and in these times!