Summer, Swimming and a Lesson

Summer and Swimming are two eternally inseparable words (Specially if you live in a 40 something degrees country). Going to the pool or the beach with my girls added a lot of fun to it, bringing great moments of bonding and fun missed by a working father. I am happy that they finally learned how to swim confidently without floaters (عوامات), it just gives them another level of enjoyment as well for us as parents an additional sense of security. Couple of weeks ago, we went for a weekend along the sea shores to soak the sun and welcome summer. Here we are digging our feet in the hot sand, standing at the beach, I saw in their eyes a sense of freedom and pride looking at their "floaters-free" arms, ready to jump in the water..and Splash! It only took them 5 minutes and some waves to realize that this is not a pool, this is a way lesser stable environment, where they felt pushed, pulled, dragged, splashed-in-the-face by waves and...surely at risk! They both held my arms with one request: Can we wear the floaters please!

So many lessons I get from them! I just realized that no matter how big, independent, knowledgeable and powerful we become, we still need our "floaters" too. This world is more of a roaring Sea than a silent wave less blue swimming pool where a green flag at sea might turn to Red anytime. NO matter how stable my life is, waves keep coming whether I like it or not, and then only then, I will not worry as I have my floating rescue ring keeping my head above water. David the Psalmist knew perfectly who and what to hold on to when the current pulls and the waves are restless:

Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me. (‭Psalm‬ ‭23‬:‭4‬ AMP)
أيضًا إذا سِرتُ في وادي ظِلِّ الموتِ لا أخافُ شَرًّا، لأنَّكَ أنتَ مَعي. عَصاكَ وعُكّازُكَ هُما يُعَزّيانِني‭‬ ‮ (المزامير ٣٢:٧)

Dear Lord, I thank you that You are there watching like a father, keeping your eyes on us in this roaring sea. I want to live my life knowing that I am holding strong to the One that keeps my head up high, and my heart praises thanks when I know that 
"The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him sincerely and in truth." (‭Psalm‬ ‭145‬:‭18‬). 
I thank you for the Rescue Ring you have put in me! In Jesus Name, Amen!

Life is not a swimming pool, keep you Rescue Ring ready!

Devoirs de Vacances

Do you remember these so-called Devoirs de Vacances-Literally translated "Vacations' Homework"-Here I face them again with my kids..but this time with a lesson. On the last week of school, Aline and I went to meet our daughters' teachers to get a feedback about this year's progress. The interesting thing in our meeting is that, next to the focus on the past year, the teachers spent a handful amount of time talking about summer, Yes, SUMMER! They talked so passionately about the importance of keeping the kids happy and enjoying the skills they crafted throughout the year..the reading, calculating, writing and more. Quoting one of them "Leila needs to feel connected to school even being physically not there..her connection is through keep doing what she enjoys at school..this will not only develop her..but make her ready and hungry to come back and learn more..she will start back school, fitting in, and hit the ground running as she, in summer, lived the school before it starts"!

WOW..That was an eye opener for the eternity we are getting ready for. It made me reflect on the life I am leading on earth, and whether the "Summer" I am living into shall lead smoothly and willingly "Back to School" or not. Same for Heaven, Am I living "Heaven" on "Earth" by acknowledging and cherishing the Love and Companionship of my Creator throughout all my days?! If Heaven is living eternally with Him, would I still want to be there...despite that I struggle sitting and enjoying His presence at least on a daily basis for few minutes? As for my kids, what if Reading, writing or maths don't move them at all..Would they wanna be back to school? I see their hunger to learn more makes them ready to embrace the days to come and the joy school will bring..They are living it before it starts.

I pray today that the short life you and I are living become a true opportunity to experience HIS Love, and taste every day the Kingdom of God that is WITHIN us as Jesus Said 
"For behold, the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]. (‭Luke‬ ‭17‬:‭21‬)" 
ولَمّا سألهُ الفَرّيسيّونَ: «مَتَى يأتي ملكوتُ اللهِ؟». أجابَهُمْ وقالَ: «لا يأتي ملكوتُ اللهِ بمُراقَبَةٍ، ولا يقولونَ: هوذا ههنا،أو: هوذا هناكَ! لأنْ ها ملكوتُ اللهِ داخِلكُمْ». (‭17‬ ‮لوقا‬:‭20-21‬ AVDDV)

Let's Live Heaven on earth and That Love so big that shall grow into us and shared outwards to all the world around us. Allow me to quote these expressive words from Pope Francis talking about our readiness "We must let him prepare our hearts, our eyes, our ears for our homeland. Being prepared for heaven means starting to see it from afar," he said, and that requires prayer, courage and the humility to allow the Lord to work in one's life.

Enjoy your Summer prepared my friends!

School performance..and a Father

Fist of all, I would like to wish all my friends and dear ones "Ramadan Kareem"! May it bring the warmth and love we always share together during its days and long nights!

This year Ramadan coincides with the last days of school for many of our children. The excitement it brings to my kids is not caused by the vacation to start soon, but rather by the end of "year closing event" they will perform in front of all the parents, showcasing what they learned and put their efforts in perfecting. Leila and Farida kept rehearsing their songs and plays, thinking about the surprising effect they will leave on us.
Here comes the BIG day of the show, they went to school and with a big kiss on my face they told me "See you today Papi, don't be late." I went as promised since I missed it last year, and sat among all the parents that came to watch their kids glowing and growing as a year passed by by. All the kids looked amazing, with the biggest proud smiles on their faces, looking with confidence into the eyes of their parents with a posture of "Look at me...I am a super star". They got their confidence by the applause and kisses sent in the air from their moms and dads. ALL so cheerful except one, who had her eyes wet, her head turning around, every second and another, standing on the tips of her toes, searching desperately for her parents...who didn't show up, despite the promise to be there. I was really sad, you could see her confidence shaken, her hopes crashed and her interest lost. She knew that no one is there to cheer for her. At the end show, her mother came in running, and as soon as the girl's eyes fell on her, she broke into unstoppable tears...in fact both of them.
So small of an incident, so Big of emotions!

In that moment, I thanked God for always having His eyes over me. How comfortable and peace inducing is the confidence we have in His presence throughout our days. I know that all my works are in front of His eyes, to rejoice and to save. I know that nothing can separate me of His love..no distance, darkness, sleep, traffic, work nothing...He is watching all over me. I Love this verse in Psalm 34:

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry (Psalm 34:15 NIV)
عَينا الرَّبِّ نَحوَ الصِّدّيقينَ، وأُذُناهُ إلَى صُراخِهِمْ. (المَزاميرُ ١٥:٣٤)

I pray today that our walk in life would bring Him joy and pride as my kids did brought to my heart that day. Yet I know, that no matter what mistake I do on stage, He will be there helping, correcting and cheering me up as He promised saying "and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. (Matthew 28:20 AMP)". AMEN!

Keep your peace my friends...He is ALWAYS there!

!إرفعوا الستار

آخر ايام العام الدراسي
 الاثارة التي تملأ عيون الاطفال بإقتراب الاجازه ، ويفوقها اثارة و حماس ( حفلة نهاية السنة الدراسية ) .. الاستعدادات للعرض الكبير الذي سيقدمونه امام الاباء و الامهات و الذي يجمعون فيه كل ما تعلموه طوال العام ويستجمعون كل قدراتهم الصغيرة علي الإبهار
 ظلت بناتي يتدربن بكل حماس علي الاغنيات و يراجعن الادوار ..في انتظار اللحظة التي فيها ستلتقي أعيننا وهم علي المسرح و نحن ننظر ونستمع بإنبهار شديد ، و نفكر كيف يكبر الاطفال بسرعه 
ثم جاء اليوم الكبير و قبلتني ابنتي بسرعه قبل المدرسه وقالت " هشوفك النهارده .. متتأخرش "
 وعدتها وذهبت تماماً كما وعدتها ( فمازال ضميري يؤنبني لاني لم احضر حفل العام الماضي ) وجلست بين الاباء والامهات في انتظار أطفالنا في أبهي لحظاتهم.
صعد الاطفال علي المسرح بعيون تلمع بالسعاده والفخر..عيون تنطق بكلمه واحده " انا نجمة
يستجمعون ثقتهم بنظرات في اعين اباءهم ويتلقون السند والشجاعه وقبلات في الهواء هنا وهناك
 كلهم سعداء إلا واحدة .. ظلت تبحث بعينها الصغيره الدامعة... تلتفت كل دقيقه .. تقف علي اطراف اصابعها بحثاً عن ابيها او امها .. احزنني ان اري ثقتها تهتز .. و املها يتحطم .. وببساطة فقدت حماسها للحفل ، فلم يكن هناك من يسعد طفولتها
 في نهايه الحفل دخلت ام الطفله تجري و جرت الطفله نحوها في بكاء و حسرة... و بكت الام ايضاً.. موقف بسيط جداً .. و مؤثر جداً
و لكني في هذه اللحظة شكرت الله الذي لم يرفع عينه عني ابدا
وكم هو احساس مريح و يبعث علي السلام.

!تلك الثقه بوجوده... بحضوره... بملازمته لنا كل ايام حياتنا

!وأعلم ان كل أعمالي امام عينيه ، فأفرح قلبه .. وفي وقت الحاجة... يحميني
 و انا أدرك انه لا شئ ...لا شئ ...يمكن ان يفصلني عن محبته...لا يعوقه شئ عن ملاحظتي و الاعتناء بي .. المسافات لا تعوقه .. و لا ظلمه !تحجبه و لا زحام يضلله .. الهي لا ينعس و لا ينام

يقول عنه داود النبي في المزمور
عَينا الرَّبِّ نَحوَ الصِّدّيقينَ، وأُذُناهُ إلَى صُراخِهِمْ. (المَزاميرُ ١٥:٣٤)

..أصلي ان تكون حياتي ( و حياتكم ) لمسرة قلب الله و سبب فخره .. تماماً كما يجلب أولادي السعادة الي قلبي كل يوم 
نعم أدرك انه اياً كانت اخطائي علي مسرح الحياة .. سيكون الهي هناك .. مسانداً .. مقوماً .. مفرحاً 
كوعده الامين ... وَهَا أَنَا مَعَكُمْ كُلَّ ٱلْأَيَّامِ إِلَى ٱنْقِضَاءِ ٱلدَّهْرِ». آمِينَ

!اصدقائي ..احتفظوا بالسلام .. فالله دائماً هنا
! خلينا منورين

Wattsapp Group Protocols

I love Wattsapp groups! I believe this application has touched the lives of many, reunited departed friends, created efficiency in communication and a platform of sharing ideas and thoughts. Above all, despite watching from afar (another country) I see that it has impacted drastically our social habits..and pre-outings agreements :-)
I specially love this moment when someone just starts a chain of "happy birthday" messages. Once this message pops on my screen, I prepare my phone battery to receive the full day flooding chain of messages on that same wattsapp group congratulating that same person. It became part of the unwritten protocol of wattsapp! You CAN NOT NEGLECT and you Shall NOT forget reacting along with the group...I tell you, it will be questioned, wandered and analyzed. In that moment, There is an urge inside you pushing to type a may-be redundant by now "happy Birthday ya ... (And some smileys, hearties, huggies, w taratir)". You feel it's too much but you still do it...because you belong to that group, you cant just keep watching, you act and add your value in that virtual world. I am sure by now you have a smile on your face recalling one these moments!

Do you know that you and I belong to another bigger group..a wireless one too..a group connected all over the globe by faith, by one heart, under One God. St. Paul the apostle wrote a lot about the group we belong too and clearly reminded us of the following urge:

"Do not NEGLECT to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Hebrews 13:16)

ولكن لا تنسوا فِعلَ الخَيرِ والتَّوْزيعَ، لأنَّهُ بذَبائحَ مِثلِ هذِهِ يُسَرُّ اللهُ. (العِبرانيّينَ ١٣:١٦)

Yes, it is this same urge or call of "Do not neglect". We are simply called to react to it and bring it alive..we need to be worthy of that group. It is strange that we can feel the pressure of a wattsapp protocol, yet we can easily Forget or neglect our real life protocol. You and I are called for higher purposes. Do not neglect the urge to do good, to share His love and bring it to a world that, day after day, hungers more for God's presence...through YOU! Do not accept being passive in the REAL world we live in, start by your home, family, work, friends....show them "the sacrifices that are  pleasing to God".

Do not neglect to do good TODAY my friend!