Spring Cleaning

Making Space For Something Better
{Picture courtesy: http://files.myopera.com/hazanmakami/blog}

Our 4 month old kitten, Zumar, is terrified of the vacuum cleaner.  Whenever he sees the blue machine coming out of the closet, I don’t have enough time to uncoil the wire and plug it in, before turning to watch Zumar run off every single time to our bedroom.  And that’s where he’ll stay until its all done with and till I announce in a sing-song tone “Zumi, shesh!!!”. Translation of the Bangla… “Zumi, its done!!!”.  Only then, he’ll come out of his hiding from behind our bed.

While vacuuming last Saturday evening (yes, I know…  Its just that we were home, and while my darling husband was busy with some official work on the computer, I thought that I might as well get it over with then), as I entered our bedroom – I caught Zumar peering out from behind our bed to confirm his worst fear, as he watched me rolling in the vacuum cleaner. So I said,
“Zumi, this is for your own good… You just don’t know it now. Don’t be scared, it’ll all be over soon baby.  I promise.”

Right after I finished assuring him, it came to me…

Sometimes, some things get taken away from us that holds great value at that point in our lives. We get into the habit of the comfort of having it around, and just as soon as we settle into it like a warm, worn-out blanket, we’re thrown into having to adapt to an unfamiliar environment with its absence.  At that very moment – we have the choice of being terrified and worry about everything that's going on, or feel the fear but be brave enough to be patient and calm while surrendering to the reality that there are things beyond our comprehension and control.  Those are the things that we trust and allow Allah (or your choice of “Higher Being”) to “clean up” for us.  That thing, that we thought best for us but instead there's something, as they say "bigger and better" for us still.  So, in order to make room for that better something, this has to be taken away.  

As I told Zumar... You just don't know it now, but it'll all be over soon. Don't be scared. Maybe Zumar didn't understand all the words spoken, but he surely understood the tone...which sounded the same as when I tell him "Zumi, I love you". If you can silence your fear just enough to listen to the tone...you'll hear it.  Whoever it is - that is the Guardian of your well-being... loves you enough to give you only what is the best for you.

Al Qur'an: 
“And Allah sends down rain from the skies, and gives therewith life to the earth after its death: verily in this is a Sign for those who listen.” {Surah Al-Nahl 13:65 ~ Qur’an}

Hadith:

"When Allah tests you, it is never intended to destroy you. When He removes something in your possession, it is only in order to empty your hands for an even greater gift." {Ibn al-Qayyim}

Dua:
Whatever happens, when someone is patient and says the dua that the Prophet - sal Allâhu alayhi wa sallam - taught us, that person will be blessed with something better.  The Dua is as follows:  “Inna lillâhi wa inna Ilayhi râji’ûn. Allâhumma ‘jurnî fî musîbatî, wakhluf lî khayrun minh.” {Umm Salamah (radi Allâhu ‘anha} 


Words of Wisdom:

“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, it empties today of its strength.” {Cornelia "Corrie" ten Boom}