Gathering with our loved ones… forever

Of all the blessings that God has blessed us, many would say that the blessing of family is one of the greatest. God has put in our hearts immense love for our family, especially our children. The story of Jacob and Joseph (peace be upon them) is one example of such love, where Jacob lost his sight due to extreme sadness of losing Joseph. This love can become so immense, God warned us to not let them (our family and children) distract us from His remembrance.

Parents can do unimaginable things out of love for their young ones. And you need to experience it first hand to truly understand it. Mothers put their lives at risk whenever they give birth to a child. But what happens after that? Despite all the pain and suffering through labor, the mother is overflowed with joy and happiness, so much so that the sight of the baby subdues the pain.

Fathers may not have the same unreal experience. They may not have as much compassion towards the child as the mother. But still, his love to his children will still be intense. And to be separated from the children, and family in general, is an unpleasant experience. And I say this from real life experience.

It would be most ideal if we could be together with the ones that we love forever and ever. But even in the best condition, it will never happen in this worldly life. There will always be the chance to be separated, whether because of job needs, school, business, and of course death.

However, there is one way to be gathered together FOREVER, in the best of places, as mentioned in the Qur’an. What we need to do is to believe and commit ourselves to good deeds. Furthermore, we also need to educate our children so that they do the same. In turn, they will do the same to their children and them to theirs, and it goes on and on until the end of time (by God’s will).

By doing so, we will be brought back together in eternal bliss. And the best part is, not only will we be gathered by our children, but also with our grandchildren, our great grandchildren, and so forth.

All of us will whither in the end…

It’s summer time here in Japan. Although hot, the plants are at their full lushness (it’s around 34 degrees here in Kyoto, and it will get hotter in August). It’s hard to imagine that just a few months ago, at the end of winter, all of these plants didn't even exist. Well, they might have existed as roots, being dormant, as seeds ready to germinate or whatever, but to the naked eye, they were literally, dead.

The weather changed, spring came, and suddenly all these plants just came out of nowhere. Showing their beautiful spring colors. The sakura (cherry blossom) flowers bloomed, the tulips bloomed, the ume (plum) flowers bloomed, along with all the other amazing flowers and plants. Everybody loves spring, photographers particularly. They can get amazing shots that would have been impossible to get in other seasons.

But all this beauty and magnificence, they don't last very long. Cherry blossoms (which is often used to symbolize Japan) are in full bloom for only two weeks at maximum. If rain comes, their display of beauty could end even sooner. And that goes the same for other flowers as well. In fact, even though the trees and plants are at their full lushness right now, in another few months, they will eventually wither and “die” all over again.  

Such is a lesson for all of us. Nothing lasts forever. It’s a cycle of creative magnificence. Just as we were brought into this world as babies, grew strong and beautiful, full of “lushness”, we will also wither and come to our time eventually. Some of us won’t even be given the chance to reach old age. So it is not so far fetched if we were to be raised up again, even if it’s as a new creation all together. Isn’t it easy for The One who created us in the beginning?