So full of joy today
I’m honestly a bit shy to be writing this, it’s my first time posting here and I just keep pouring out my feelings 😭 but I’m just overwhelmed with happiness and gratitude because I finally have a place to share what’s in my heart, hoping someone out there gets me. Today was such a beautiful day after so many hard ones, and I really wanted to share it with my fellow Muslim sisters because my heart is swelling with thankfulness to Allah. Back when I was in elementary school, I was the only girl who wasn’t from here and the only Muslim in class. People treated me really differently. Once, a classmate’s mom even called me “dirty” and warned her daughter to keep away from me. I was so young and it cut so deep, I started trying to make myself invisible, scared that even looking at me would anger others. I honestly began to believe I was physically unclean. But there was this one girl in my class, always so incredibly gentle with me. She made sure I was never left out, treated me just like everyone else, and would literally beg her mom to bring me to every birthday party since her mom had a car. For almost five years, her mom would come pick me up so I could join in with all the others. I never, ever forgot that kindness. And today, totally by chance and by Allah’s will, I ran into her after about nine years. I haven’t seen her since middle school! My aunt happens to live close to one of her relatives, and somehow we just bumped into each other and started talking. And the sweetest part? After all this time, I still remembered her favorite doll and the cartoons she loved. We’ve made plans to meet again this Thursday and I’m so, so excited 😭 I even want to surprise her with one of those pretty snow globes that sparkle when you shake them-because when I was around seven, she gave me one exactly like that and I still treasure it. I don’t know… tonight my heart just feels so tender. It’s true what they say, sometimes one tiny act of kindness can live inside a person forever. Alhamdulillah for compassionate souls. May Allah bless everyone who makes others feel included and safe, especially little ones. 🤍