Love

My SunshineThe minute you were born, in Geneva, Papa held you and you looked at the world around you so intensely with the most luminous eyes, we started calling you ‘luminosity’. When you were about four, in our apartment in Paris, I would have to print long documents and the printer would make this loud monotonous sound, you would start to dance. When you were about nine, in Houston, and you learned that kids in many countries couldn’t go to school, you decided to change the world.This past year, when the stresses of being a high school teenager in a ridiculously competitive, consumption obsessed, cookie-cutter fostering environment became too much, you showed your true mettle. You suffered, but you held on. You questioned, but you never gave up. You are my strong, brave, spirited, compassionate, courageous girl. I will never leave your side. You will never leave my duas. We will always persevere. InshAllah.Day 24; Gratitude 24: Saanya ZaydubeanI love the fact, that of all the gadgets and gizmos that you could have wanted for Eid, you chose … a turtle. It reveals so much about the amazing little guy that you are. Curious about the world, and all its inhabitants; in love with nature, and all its wonders; compassionate for life, in all its varieties. For weeks you researched turtles and tortoises – what they ate, where they like to live, what makes them happy. You couldn’t talk about anything else (even cars took a back seat!)Yesterday you chose Georgie, your tortoise. While I’m thinking, with our ever growing number of pets, how in the world did I end up on the set of “We Bought a Zoo”, you’re beaming from ear to ear imagining that heaven must have lots and lots of creatures. This morning you woke up and asked, “Was I dreaming mama, or do I really have a tortoise.”You melt me, Zaydubean. With your smile. Your laugh. Your wit. Your gentleness. Your love.Day 25; Gratitude 25: My ZaydSee all 30 gratitudes, and other Ramadan posts at 30days30deeds.com