Around strangers, teachers, and acquaintances, my four and a half year old daughter is almost completely mute. Her fingers crammed in her mouth and her sullen eyes downcast, her pediatrician asked me if she was, “a little infantile, no?” The comment was annoying, but it did not trouble me. I know that my girl is...
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Monthly Archives: February 2010 What is it that makes a house our home? Where does comfort, “Gemuetlichkeit”, come from? What are the things that make us feel cozy and warm? What is the secret of creating a soulful, welcoming atmosphere with a lovely spirit in our houses? I am a real home bird, a homebody that loves to be... I recently came across an elementary student’s written reflections on how to improve her behavior. She wrote something to the effect: “I think I can improve my behavior by having more taqwa. When I have taqwa, I feel that Allah (SWT) is watching me. I also remember that my classmates are my brothers and sisters…”... I was always a smart student, in a sense. I could get A’s barely studying and figure out how to write the essay that would impress the instructor but take minimal effort from me. I knew all the shortcuts that would keep schoolwork down to a minimum, freeing up time for my real interests. For... It started out when she smiled at me, so thankfully. It made me feel bad. Why was I so begrudging of this empty spot next to me? Why was I being so greedy with something that didn’t belong to me. Why couldn’t I just smile, graciously, when she asked me if there was any space... |