Making Rain

Bismillah,
Alaikum Salam wa rehmatullah,

Photo credits - Yumna Arif

As I walked out onto the porch, I found Rizma strolling in the front lawn, surveying the plants that surrounded her. As she looked on, I could tell that she had already been doing this for some time now and, by the looks of it, was clearly bored.

It was the start of her summer vacation and having little else to do, my thirteen year-old sister had decided to come down to the lawn and spend some time by herself.

The mid-summer heat was intense and the fact that it hadn't rained for some time, didn't exactly improve much, or so I thought. 

Spotting the running hose that lay in the grass, 

I thought to myself, "That's it! - We'll make rain!"

Stealthily picking up the pipe, I screamed at her "Run for it!"

It didn't take long for her to realize what was going on. She ran for the door as fast as she could, but before she could actually make it there, I had already soaked her!

As her clothes dripped in cold water, she looked at me with vengeful eyes. But then, as I smiled back, I could notice the shy little contour that had formed on her lips, too.

I walked over to her and handed her the pipe, submitting myself to an enemy who was far too cute for incompliance. And in the water fight that followed, the two of us laughed, played and danced in the 'rain' as if all the worries of our little world had just melted away. 

Soaked from head to toe, we had defeated the heat, enjoyed each other's company and connected in a way that we hadn't in a long, long time. 

The world thought we had wasted an hour. But to the little girl who smiled at me as she wrapped a towel around her wet clothes, it just might have been the best day of summer. The few moments I had taken out from my 'precious' time had gone into the treasure chest all kids deserve to have full - their childhood. 

Now, I know I should be studying right now, but hey we all need a little break every once in a while, don't we? And this, was well worth it, Alhamdulillah.

But that's not all! After I got back to what I was doing, I was blessed with fresh inspiration and a motivation for doing more than perhaps I ever thought possible. :)

Photo credits - Yumna Arif

Your children will only build upon the foundations you establish today and what you leave empty, will be left for the world to build upon. Therefore, leave no stone unturned in your pursuit to give them the best Tarbiyyah  that you can. This includes providing them with the innocent recreation they yearn for and spending time with them in fun ways that inspires them to look up to the people they call their family. Incorporate a little Da'wah into everything.

Peace, love and respect,
Shahraiz.

Update: It just rained in Lahore. :)