Today I am thankful…
- for first signs of spring on our peach tree
- for strawberries and homemade jam
- for our 7-year-old who reads now on his own, tbarakallah,
- for a warm shower this morning with Weleda rose cream
- for a journey to look forward to, inchaallah,
- for friends to meet,
- for a home, my husband and our children, alhamdulillah!
Salam alaikoum and see you in about a week, inchaallah!
While making up my wardrobe, I also did some springtime sewing. Here are the results from the last week:
a new bag made of repurposed jeans and realized with the help of Melissa’s great tutorial ;
and a little handbag for my girl, just as those I did for the boys before (made of old trousers).
Happy Spring and blessed week to you !
“When the earth is shaken with its final earthquake.
And when the earth throws out its burdens.
And man will say:”What is the matter with it?”
That Day it will declare its information about all that happened over it of good or evil.
Because your Lord will inspire it.
That Day mankind will proceed in scattered groups that they may be shown their deeds.
So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom shall see it.
And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom shall see it.”
(Sura 99)
These days I cannot help but have to think about our final destination, about doomsday and the last judgment. Mashaallah.
The shocking events in Japan fill me with fear and humbleness, but also with confirmation about the power of Allah, our Creator.
I feel that we have no time to waste, that we have to strive for paradise, to compete in doing good deeds, to better ourselves, to ask for forgiveness and His mercy, to ask for guidance for all mankind and to praise our Lord.
“And turn in repentance and in obedience with true faith to your Lord and submit to Him before the torment comes upon you, then you will not be helped.”
(Sura 39, Verse 54)
“When the sun is wound round and its light is lost and is overthrown.
And when the stars fall.
And when the mountains are made to pass away;
And when the pregnant she-camels are neglected;
And when the wild beasts are gathered together.
And when the seas become as blazing fire or overflow.
And when the souls are joined with their bodies.
And when the female infant buried alive is questioned:
For what sin was she killed?
And when the written pages of deeds (of every person) are laid open.
And when the heaven is stripped off and taken away from its place;
And when the hellfire is set ablaze.
And when paradise is brought near.
Then every person will know what he has brought of good and evil.”
(Sura 81 / verse 1-14)
May you all be blessed with His mercy! Ameen.
In my last post I wrote about the concept of logotherapy and how well it matches the Islamic lifestyle. In one book, Elisabeth Lukas writes about the modern day’s illness of society which is about always wanting more, running after material goods, and not treasuring what we already have; and also that a lot of today’s depressions are rooted in the lack of faith in something higher than us.
According to Lukas, praying is a way to heal ourselves. But before asking for something we should begin to thank for what we already have, as it is through realizing the gifts we already are blessed with that we become happy, satisfied and encouraged to live out our owns best.
Islam tells us nothing different: be thankful, be humble, and look at what Allah has blessed you with, look at those who have less, so that you might be taught gratitude and compassion. Alhamdulillah.
Maybe I’ll begin a new thankful-series here – wanna join me?
Subhanallah, this morning I am thankful for…
… snow and rain (which the dry soil over here so desperately needed),
… but also for signs of spring and the warmth of the sun,
… black Darjeeling tea and a slice of cake,
… for health, energy and purpose in life,
… for inspiration all around.
Alhamdulillah and happy week!
In the morning, when the children are still asleep, I often crawl into the warm corner beside our chimney, welcoming the first sunrays with a cup of tea and a good book before the hustle and bustle of the day starts and this morning I thought it is time to give you an update of the books that are in my mind at the moment…
Last year a very dear friend of mine introduced me to the concept of logotherapy and since summer I already read some different books about and am now in love with it.
I like the concept behind it so much as it seems to me being the only successive approach to life, to human problems in general:
The thing is not to question life and hard times and to ask “why?”
But rather try to give an answer to the (sometimes hard) questions life is offering us and to face it with a meaningful, positive attitude.
I love the concept of seeing the human being as free and independent (in the last consequence even free from the own ego and desires), always having the possibility to change and to take direction on our own, even in the worst of cases, might it only be by an inner change of view.
I see that the Islamic concept of seeing life as a test, trying to make the best out of any given situation, to behave in one’s best way is nothing different.
Logotherapy fits so very well with Islam and its concept – it seems as if the one just complements the other. I think logotherapy puts circumstances, thoughts and human psyche in words and Islam gives a concept of meaning and purpose and offers even a whole detailed way of life. Both enrich the other, subhanallah.
If you are also interested to read more about logotherapy, I first recommend you Viktor E. Frankl’s book “Men’s search for meaning”.
I liked the book so much. I found it very disturbing in the beginning because I never could and still cannot stand to hear all the cruelty of concentration camps, in which Frankl spent some years of his life. But he managed to write his story with deep hope and optimism – very touching and very true.
I also recommend all the books from Elisabeth Lukas (available in English, German and other languages), a specialist in logotherapy.
At the moment I am reading another book on psychology and healing, called “The secret of instant healing” (Quantenheilung) from Frank J. Kinslow, which my father recommended to me. The book is much less of a spiritual one and some parts do not fit with my Muslim point of view, but the whole thing of healing through positive energy and thoughts seems to be great…. I am trying on it and will give you an update later, inchaallah.
What about you? What are the best books you’ve read over the last months?
Happy reading and happy March!
The air is getting warmer, the trees are blossoming and it feels like new life is growing everywhere. Slowly we put off the second pair of socks and woolen trousers and the fire in the chimney doesn’t burn that often any more…
…Time for a make up of my wardrobe:
I am still in the green-living and repurposing mood and anyway, as I’ve told you a year ago, buying new things is nearly impossible over here, even if I would have the wish and the money.
My style and taste changed over the years and the older I grow the more I like long and wide, feminine dresses. More and more I approach the Islamic manner of making myself beautiful at home and to wear lovely clothes when with family but to cover myself in modesty when going out – its’ quiet the contrary of what I was brought up with.
So when I recently opened my closet, I found a lot of things which I liked either in color or shape but nothing seemed to fit “perfect” with my actual feeling of style.
The easiest way of renewing my wardrobe seemed to put together some pieces and to make something new out of them.
So I took several tunics, skirts and dresses; I cut off the worn-out parts or those which didn’t fit, and I pinned together matching pieces in a new way: a top part of a tunic sewn together with the lower part of a wide t-shirt made a totally new long dress; the lower part of an old skirt sewn together with a piece of a blouse made another lovely new piece; a beautiful appliqué here, a new shawl combined with it there…
Subhanallah, totally fresh home dresses without spending any money only by repurposing old things.
And those clothes which I really do not wear any longer, those which kept untouched since more than a year, I’ll give away as charity, inchaallah….
I think the spring-cleaning season has begun just as every year, friends! Let’s see what’s about next to make up – any new ideas for home and self?
