Quiet Moments

It's still the wee hours in the morning, and things are very quiet.
We had eaten our 'sahur' - the last meal before we begin the fast for the day. The kids have parked themselves in my room again, so they are sprawled all over the floor.As much as they tried to keep awake for the call to prayer, they slowly slip to la la land.

I managed to read a few verses of the Holy Book.
That in itself, has brought about a sense of calm and serenity. The mind may still be filled with thoughts of things undone, and deadlines to meet, but the spirit is soothed. I know I should be doing this more, and being 'busy' is precisely the reason for the unsettled feelings that have been building up.

The cats are in the room too; maybe the truce induced by the need to be in a cool room to sleep. Whoever gets the main portion of the bed becomes the 'queen bee', and it is an unwritten rule that the throne on the bed means who gets the biggest share of strokes and cuddles. For the past few nights, Murphee would rather forgo dinner so that she can sprawl herself at the centre of the bed.

The call to prayer is heard over the radio.
The muazzin's voice is hauntingly melodic...and there is the reminder that it is better to 'prayer' than to sleep.
Ironically, this is the time when my eye-lids find themselves extra heavy...
Temptations...
It is I who can overcome my own desires; my own weaknesses.
It is always easy to find excuses and procrastinate.

Prayer for the day:
God, I am humbled.
Grateful that you have given the gift of life to me for another day.
Thankful that you gave me the ability to think and reflect.
I shall not waste today.
I am going to spend it with my children, my family...
Ameen...ya rabbal alamin -