Not a bed of roses

My friends would know that I don't cry publicly, but there are usually two things that can make me cry:
1. Very hot spicy food that sends tears flowing like river to my eyes, and
2. A story/novel/show with a sad story-line , with possibly a tragic ending

So, there I was a few days ago, reading the famous novel by Jodi Picoult, "My Sister's Keeper" and I was sobbing and sniffling like mad, crying my eyes out. It was touching, a story of how a family fights as one of the kid has got acute promyelocytic leukemia.

But the sad part is, it ends with the death of one of the kid. Not going to comment more, just in case there is anyone out there who has not read the novel yet.

And yesterday, I was holding back tears as I watched yesterday's episode of Bersamamu on TV3. The show was portraying the life of this 15 year old boy with a mass the size of a coconut on his tummy and he was diagnosed as having 'kanser urat saraf'.. (So that would be a neurofibroma wouldn't it? )

The boy was thin, frail and obviously in much pain. His mother and family stayed close by his side until..until he breathed his last. Yeah, the boy died in the end. (And this is a real life story!!). And the TV3 crew were actually there to capture the moments of his death.

It just struck me again of how fragile life is, really. Of how this life is a series of tests for Allah to see which of His servant is the strong one and deserves to be rewarded with Jannah. Says a verse in the Quran:

We will test you until We know the true fighters among you and those who are steadfast and test what is reported of you. (Qur'an, 47:31)

Please let us be the true fighters ya Allah!

Tests can come up in many different ways, some of which can be totally unexpected and may creep up to you in a surprise. Some people are tested with difficulty in family, some in illness, some in work, others in studies, money, and the list goes on. In the Quran, Allah also says:

Do people imagine that they will be left to say, 'We believe,' and will not be tested? We tested those before them so that Allah would know the truthful and would know the liars. (Qur'an, 29:2-3)

I once heard a wise man said that each time you are tested, and when you are able to get through the test, Allah will rise your place to a higher level. He will keep you closer to Him, and strengthen your back. All we have to do is to have faith in Him, and know that He will bring us through any bad times, through any difficulties. As He is the Most Powerful, and He knows all the hikmah/wisdom of it all.

And He is ALWAYS there for us, to listen to all our cries and whinings. Oh how kind our God is, when as human-beings, we have in many times, wronged ourselves, forget Him, did sins and sometimes did not obey all his commands. But He is still there for us, every minute, every second..always. Isn't it in the Quran that says He is closer to us than our own vein?

And indeed We have created man, and We know whatever thoughts his inner self develops, and We are closer to him than (his) jugular vein [50: 16]

And this is another verse, on how near is Allah's help to those who are tested.

Or did you suppose that you would enter the Garden without facing the same as those who came before you? Poverty and illness afflicted them and they were shaken to the point that the Messenger and those who believed with him said, 'When is Allah's help coming?' Be assured that Allah's help is very near. (Qur'an, 2:214)

So to everyone out there who is striving and facing this life's test: Stay strong, don't give up. Always have Allah in your heart, and always seek Him for help and guidance. Remember that life in this world is only temporary and that the hereafter is the one that matters.

The life of this world is nothing but a game and a diversion. The abode of the hereafter-that is truly Life if they only knew. (Qur'an, 29:64)

May Allah keep us strong always, and be steadfast in this path, inshaAllah.