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RELIEF
"Did We not relieve your heart for you
[Prophet], and remove the burden that weighed
so heavily on your back, and raise your
reputation high? So truly where there is
hardship there is also ease; truly where there
is hardship there is also ease. The moment you
are freed [of one task], work on, and turn to
your Lord with your request." - (Qur'an: Surah
94 As-Sharh. Ayaal 1-8)
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Park
Bench
The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read beneath
the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree.
Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown, for the world
was intent on dragging me down.
And if that weren't enough to ruin my day, a young boy out
of breath approached me, all tired from play. He stood right
before me with his head tilted down and said with great
excitement, "Look what I found!"
In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight, with its
petals all worn - not enough rain, or too little light. Wanting
me to take his dead flower and go off to play, I faked a small
smile and then shifted away.
But instead of retreating he sat next to my side and placed
the flower to his nose and declared with overacted surprise,
"It sure smells pretty and it's beautiful, too. That's why I
picked it; here, it's for you." The weed before me was dying or
dead. Not vibrant of colours: orange, yellow or red. But I knew
I must take it. or he might never leave. So I reached for the
flower, and replied, "Just what I need." But instead of him
placing the flower in my hand. He held it mid-air without
reason or plan.
It was then that I noticed for the very first time that
weed-toting boy could not see: he was blind. I heard my voice
quiver; tears shone in the sun as I thanked him for picking the
very best one. "You're welcome," he smiled, and then ran off to
play, Unaware of the impact he'd had on my day.
I sat there and wondered how he managed to see a self
pitying person beneath an old willow tree. How did he know of
my self indulged plight? Perhaps from his heart, he'd been
blessed with true sight.
Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see. The
problem was not with the world; the problem was me. And for all
of those times I myself had been blind. I vowed to see the
beauty in life, and appreciate every second that's mine. And
then I held that wilted flower up to my nose and breathed in
the fragrance of a beautiful rose and smiled as I watched that
young boy with another weed in his hand, about to change the
life of an unsuspecting old man.
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