Qanaah

Qanaah. It means to be thankful for every single thing that we have. We can only achieve this if we look at others who are less fortunate than us. We will complaint about our shoes until the day we met someone without a leg.

A relative once complained to me she wish she hold a job to help lessen her husband's burden. Since is jobless since she graduated three years ago. Noble intention. I told her if they can afford it it's better for her to be a full time housewife so that she can raise up her kids on her own. To educate them to be person with good values. No matter how much they earn it will never be enough if they look at others who earn more. But if they compare themselves with others who fare below them them then they will be grateful.

I once watched a documentary about a couple that has 17 kids and they managed to send 13 of their kids to university despite their meager income as rubber tappers. I can't imagine how they did it but they did it well. So well. And I can't imagine them being couples that always complained about their poor state of life. They must have live a difficult life, saving everything they can for the sake of their kids. Such difficult life but they live a contented life despite all the hardship that they have to face. When we have faith in Allah we have all the strength we need to move on. 

Allah has been very generous to me. I have more than enough. The trick is to be thankful every single second of my life. What Allah took from me, Allah will always replace something better. Is there any room for complain? Nauzubillah - Oo Allah, please don't make me one who always complaint. But make me one who's always thankful to You every second of my life. When Allah tested me, it is only to make me stronger. So that I will bounce back with more energy and vigor.

Oo Allah. Forgive me if I forget and complaint. Forgive me if I compare myself with some one better and lament on it. Forgive me if I envy someone richer and sulk. Forgive me if I'm not contented with everything that you have grant me and my family.

May Allah bless us all.

meager - (of something provided or available) lacking in quantity or quality: they were forced to supplement theirmeager earnings.

vigor - physical strength and good health.

• effort, energy, and enthusiasm: they set about the new task with vigor.
lament - a passionate expression of grief or sorrow: his mother's night-long laments for his father | a song full of lament and sorrow.
sulk - be silent, morose, and bad-tempered out of annoyance or disappointment: he was sulking over the breakup of his band.

Wisdom of life

It takes a lot to keep a family together. A lot of sacrifices. It is only when we give a lot then only will we receive a lot. Life is not about asking. It's about giving. When we give, not necessarily we will receive back from that very same person. Allah will send some one else to do the giving to us. That is the meaning of sincerity. To give without expecting to receive something in return. 

My friend lost her battle to save her marriage. But after that she met her present husband and they got married like a whirl wind. He treated her like a queen. Sometimes Allah will take something precious from us. Instead of asking why me, just wait and see what Allah will substitute for us. Definitely something better than what we lost. We just have to be patient until Allah reveals to us the better things Allah has in store for us.

I can't change the bad attitude of my students. But when I showed them how patient I am with their bad attitude and how I can still treat them well, they soften a little bit. We have to be positive all the time. It's for our own sake, not for others. We can't change others, we can only change ourselves. But when we change, the world around us will change. 

Life is a struggle. The struggle is what make us alive. No pain no gain. Just hold on to the rope of Allah tightly and we will not be swiped away by the fierce tornado. 

May Allah bless us all.