Valuing Parents

“Please, Mum, just this once,” Maryam pleaded with her mother. When her mother shook her head once more, Maryam decided she couldn’t take it any longer.

“It’s so unfair, Mum, honestly!” Tears of frustration brimmed in Maryam’s eyes and her voice trembled. “Every single girl in my class is going to be a part of this sleepover. Every single one. And as always, I’m the one left out!” she screeched as she stormed out of the kitchen and slammed the door shut behind her.

“Maryam,” her mother called after her, but she was long gone by then.

“Ya Allah,” her mother said as she held her tired hands against her face and wiped her tears. “Please guide our girl,” she prayed in a whisper that only her Lord could hear.

“I missed out big time, didn’t I?” Maryam asked her friends at lunchtime.

Fātimah and Khadījah looked at each other nervously.

“See, I did,” Maryam exclaimed in disappointment. “I’ve not spoken to my mum all weekend. I’m so mad at her—she’s so controlling,” she grumbled.

“Actually, Maryam, we didn’t really enjoy it,” Fātimah said. “It’s not like the sleepovers the three of us usually have,” she added.

“What do you mean?” asked Maryam.

“Well, let’s just say you should be glad you didn’t come,” Khadījah replied with a grimace. “We went home before even sleeping.”

“Stop acting like it wasn’t fun,” Maryam said sourly. “My mum is such a spoilsport. You’re lucky you guys don’t have to put up with that. Your grandma is so chill.”

“Maryam, we wish we did have to put up with that,” the two sisters said, looking at each other with eyes full of longing. “We wish we lived with our mum and not our grandma.”

“Sorry,” Maryam said, flushing at her mistake. It had been years since her friends had lost their mum, and she’d become so accustomed to it that she had never considered their feelings.

“It’s okay, Maryam,” Khadījah said quietly. “In sha’ Allah, we can be with our mum in Jannah. But you’ve got the chance to be good to yours,” she encouraged.

Maryam hung her head in shame. That night, she hugged her mother extra tightly. As always, she only realised afterwards why her mother had said no to her—and it was never to take away from her fun.

Nobody looked out for her as her mother did. And nobody forgave her and welcomed her back as her mother did.

MORALS:
– We should recognise and value all our blessings.
– We can recognise the favours of Allah by observing those who do not possess those blessings.
– Parents are a great blessing of Allah. There is no one who loves us or has more concern for us than our parents. We should love them, respect them, and try our best to keep them happy.
– Sometimes in life, things won’t happen the way we want, but remember, there is always goodness in everything—whether we understand it or not!