My Mom Only Had One Eye ...

My mom only had one eye. I hated her… She was such an embarrassment. She cooked for students and teachers to support the family.

There was this one day during elementary school where my mom came to say hello to me. I was so embarrassed.

How could she do this to me? I ignored her, threw her a hateful look and ran out. The next day at school one of my classmates said, “EEEE, your mom only has one eye!”

I wanted to bury myself. I also wanted my mom to just disappear. I confronted her that day and said, “If you’re only gonna make me a laughing stock, why don’t you just die?”

My mom did not respond … I didn’t even stop to think for a second about what I had said, because I was full of anger. I was oblivious to her feelings.

I wanted out of that house, and have nothing to do with her. So I studied real hard, got a chance to go abroad to study.

Then, I got married. I bought a house of my own. I had kids of my own. I was happy with my life, my kids and the comforts. Then one day, my Mother came to visit me. She hadn’t seen me in years and she didn’t even meet her grandchildren.

When she stood by the door, my children laughed at her, and I yelled at her for coming over uninvited. I screamed at her, “How dare you come to my house and scare my children! GET OUT OF HERE! NOW!!!”

And to this, my mother quietly answered, “Oh, I’m so sorry. I may have gotten the wrong address.” – and she disappeared out of sight.

One day, a letter regarding a school reunion came to my house. So I lied to my wife that I was going on a business trip. After the reunion, I went to the old shack just out of curiosity.

My neighbours said that she died. I did not shed a single tear. They handed me a letter that she had wanted me to have.

“My dearest son,

I think of you all the time. I’m sorry that I came to your house and scared your children.

I was so glad when I heard you were coming for the reunion. But I may not be able to even get out of bed to see you. I’m sorry that I was a constant embarrassment to you when you were growing up.

You see … when you were very little, you got into an accident, and lost your eye. As a mother, I couldn’t stand watching you having to grow up with one eye. So I gave you mine.

I was so proud of my son who was seeing a whole new world for me, in my place, with that eye.

With all my love to you,

Your Mother.”

The Three Dolls

A sage presented a prince with a set of three small dolls. The prince was not amused.

“Am I a girl that you give me dolls?” – He asked.

“This is a gift for a future king,” Said the sage. “If you look carefully, you’ll see a hole in the ear of each doll.”

The sage handed him a piece of string. “Pass it through each doll.” – He said.

Intrigued, the prince picked up the first doll and put the string into the ear. It came out from the other ear. “This is one type of person,” said the sage, “whatever you tell him, comes out from the other ear. He doesn’t retain anything.”

The prince put the string into the second doll. It came out from the mouth. “This is the second type of person,” said the sage, “whatever you tell him, he tells everybody else.”

The prince picked up the third doll and repeated the process. The string did not come out. “This is the third type of person,” said the sage, “whatever you tell him is locked up within him. It never comes out.”

“What is the best type of person?” – Asked the prince.

The sage handed him a fourth doll, in answer. When the prince put the string into the doll, it came out from the other ear.



“Do it again.” – Said the sage.

The prince repeated the process. This time the string came out from the mouth. When he put the string in a third time, it did not come out at all.

“This is the best type of person,” said the sage. “To be trustworthy, a man must know when not to listen, when to remain silent and when to speak out.”

Problem Of Pain

You may have noticed that the books you really love are bound together by a secret thread. You know very well what is the common quality that makes you love them, though you cannot put it into words: but most of your friends do not see it at all, and often wonder why, liking this, you should also like that.

Again, you have stood before some landscape, which seems to embody what you have been looking for all your life; and then turned to the friend at your side who appears to be seeing what you saw - but at the first words a gulf yawns between you, and you realize that this landscape means something totally different to him, that he is pursuing an alien vision and cares nothing for the ineffable suggestion by which you are transported.

Even in your hobbies, has there not always been some secret attraction which the others are curiously ignorant of - something, not to be identified with, but always on the verge of breaking through, the smell of cut wood in the workshop or the clap of water against the boat's side?

Are not all lifelong friendships born at the moment when at last you meet another human being who has some inkling (but faint and uncertain even in the best) of that something which you were born desiring, and which, beneath the flux of other desires and in all the momentary silences between the louder passions, night and day, year by year, from childhood to old age, you are looking for, watching for, listening for?

You have never had it.

All the things that have ever deeply possessed your soul have been but hints of it - tantalizing glimpses, promises never quite fulfilled, echoes that died away just as they caught your ear. But if it should really become manifest - if there ever came an echo that did not die away but swelled into the sound itself you would know it.

Beyond all possibility of doubt you would say "Here at last is the thing I was made for". We cannot tell each other about it. It is the secret signature of each soul, the incommunicable and unappeasable want, the thing we desired before we met our wives or made our friends or chose our work, and which we shall still desire on our deathbeds, when the mind no longer knows wife or friend or work.

While we are, this is. If we lose this, we lose all.

What's Next

I had come to that point in life where you start wondering whether you are of any use to anyone in this life, where you now seem like a burden to everyone around. It’s like you just a bag of negativity, a mountain of failure, and a perfect example of what not to be in life.

You make everyone around you feel down, your parents start looking at you with that "look", you are always fighting with siblings are afraid to approach you because you always got a frown all the time, friends start to desert you.

You have exhausted all the challenges that life has set for you and you have proven to the world that you are a failure, but you are not convinced yet that you are a failure, you still want to do more, you still want to redeem yourself.

That is human nature to believe that you will someday succeed, that's why gamblers go to that betting house everyday of their lives, that's why the casinos are always packed, that's why stadiums are never empty. Human nature does not accept failure; it seeks to prove its worth to the world.

Even after failing at almost everything you will always find something to try and tackle, thinking maybe this is where your destiny lies, but after tripping and falling you raise yourself, dust yourself and get back on that horse again and ride it until you run into a brick wall head first only then do you stop.

Then you get up once more, you look around and you find a small pathway that is running along the length of that brick and you think this is your salvation, you start heading down that pathway hoping that you shall come to the end of the brick wall, after walking for hours and hours, you realize the wall shall never end, but you look back and you convince yourself that the distance you have walked is now longer than that, that remains.

So you decide to continue down the path hoping that you shall come to somewhere where the wall gives way, but even as you walk further down that path in the back of your mind you know that this journey shall never end you shall never get your break but you still can’t get yourself to give up. It is in us as humans to never accept the inevitable, to never come to terms with defeat or failure. We always continue to wonder "What’s next?"

So even if you see that successful business man always know that he carries failure in his heart. He has failed in a certain field even as though he owns that big shop, that big house, that big house, he still thinks he could have done better; he still seeks to better all his success. So don't think just because you have failed at something that it’s the end of the road, get up, dust yourself up, and look for that pathway and head down it

Never Assume Poor Means Stupid

My husband and I are poor. The assumption most people make is that we're stupid, some even say it openly. We've both just had no luck and are working to improve our situation.

I'm not sure of my real age, when my parents and came to America they modified my birth certificate. I'm somewhere between the ages of 22 to 25. Legally 22 but everything points to me being older. My social and many other government papers, IDs, etc. are messed up because of this. I can't get my original birth certificate because you can't get paperwork from a country that doesn't exist anymore.

They sent me to a terrible "private high school", we didn't do science in school because the teachers didn't feel like it. It's so bad that even the community college (75 miles away) wouldn't accept me. I couldn't read till I was ten, no one cared or helped besides my dad.

Considering what the public high school was like, there were multiple rapes and a murder, I'm glad they sent somewhere crappy instead of dangerous. My husband found an online accredited high school, I'm busy doing it all over again.

He had a rough time as well. His parents divorced, his bio-dad is an alcoholic. As a teen his mom and step dad kicked him out of the house (for playing video games). He was homeless for a while, didn't finish school but managed to get a GED a few years later. Got into a relationship with a woman who cheated and took everything with her when he wouldn't stay with her while she slept with half the town.

We met working together, dated, got married, bought a cheap country house, had a baby, I encouraged him to apply to some colleges. He's now in his 3rd year of university (I'm glad that state universities do online degrees now) and a 4.0. I'll be starting next year.

But because we got a later start and don't have tons of money, people think we're stupid.

Tujuan Hidup

Terdengar perbualan dalam Program Better.Brighter ...

Q: Apa tujuan utama hidup you?

A: Untuk mendapat Keredhaan Tuhan.

Q: Kenapa?

A: Itu passport utk I selamat dalam alam-alam yang akan datang.

Q: Kenapa itu penting utk you?

A: I sedar masa I atas dunia ini hanya sementara dan makin singkat.

Q: Kalau begitu, apa yang you akan buat dalam hidup ini?

A: Setiap ketika, bagi perbuatan-perbuatan (seperti solat, berpuasa, bekerja, melayan keluarga, belajar, berehat, bersahabat dan sebagainya) yang di redhai Tuhan, akan I lakukan dengan terbaik kerana Tuhan tanda syukur I atas nikmat yang telah dan akan diberi Tuhan!

Q: Kenapa you syukur kepada Tuhan?

A: Kerana I sedar, I tidak mampu membayar balik apa yang Tuhan telah dan akan beri pada I. Namun, I sedar Tuhan sangat suka orang bersyukur dengan Dia. Dan Tuhan paling suka orang yang menunjukkan syukur melalui perbuatannya. Itu sebab bagi perbuatan yang diredhai Tuhan, akan I lakukan dengan terbaik kerana Dia tanda syukur I pada Dia.

Q: Mengapa you mesti lakukan perbuatan itu dengan terbaik?

A: Kerana I sedar, apa sahaja yang diberi Tuhan kepada I, pasti itu yang terbaik untuk I. Jadi, malulah I jika tidak I lakukan perbuatan-perbuatan itu dengan terbaik kerana Dia.

Q: Apa pandangan you tentang segala kesenangan dan kesusahan yang dilalui dalam hidup ini?

A: Kesenanangan dan kesusahan I itu I lihat sebagai kenderaan untuk I mencapai Keredhaan Tuhan.

Q: Bagaimana kesenangan you itu dijadikan sebagai kenderaan untuk you capai keredhaan Tuhan?

A: Segala kesenangan seperti harta, pangkat, ilmu dan kesihatan badan menjadi kenderaan I dengan cara memudahkan I melaksanakan perbuatan-perbuatan I yang diredhai Tuhan.

Q: Bagaimana kesusahan you itu dijadikan kenderaan untuk you capai keredhaan Tuhan?

A: Segala kesusahan I seperti kesempitan hidup dan penyakit yang ditanggung menjadi kenderaan I dengan cara mengingatkan I bahawa susah I di dunia ini hanya sementara dan sudah semestinya ianya memberi motivasi agar I berusaha lebih kuat agar I tidak susah di alam-alam akan datang.

Q: Menarik cara pandang you ya?

A: Benar, cara pandang begini memudahkan I menjalani kehidupan atas dunia ini dengan lebih tenang.

Kita begitu?

Bagaimana Kita Melihat Manusia?

Perhatikan wajah-wajah di bawah ini ...

Mampukah kita melihat Manusia ini sebagai Orang?

Bagaimana kita melihat Manusia sebagai Orang?

Kita melihat Manusia sebagai Orang bila kita mampu ...

Hargai Fikiran Mereka!

Hargai Perasaan Mereka!

Hargai Pilihan Mereka!

Hargai Tindakan Mereka!

Walaupun Fikiran, Perasaan, Pilihan & Tindakan berbeza dengan kita!

Kenapa?

Kerana kita sedar latarbelakang mereka berbeza dengan kita!

Jadi selepas ini, mari kita dakap manusia tanda kita ...

Hormati Fikiran, Perasaan, Pilihan & Tindakan Mereka.

Itu amalan mudah untuk lihat Manusia sebagai Orang!

Membantu Ikan Kelemasan Part 1

Semalam saya naik motor bawa anak pusing-pusing kampung.

Sampai di satu tempat saya tengok ada orang menjala ikan. So, saya pun berhenti la di situ. Nak bagi anak tengok ikan.

Tiba tiba bila saya tengok dalam sawah yang kering tu di tepi tempat orang menjala itu. Saya ternampak seekor ikan cuci cermin (ikan bandaraya yang selalu melekat di cermin).

Saya sangat yakin, ikan ni mesti dibuang oleh orang yang menjala tadi. Mana mungkin ikan tu tiba tiba ada di sawah padi yang kering tu.

Di kampung saya, ikan cuci cermin ni sering dibunuh oleh orang yang menjala ikan. Ada yang ketuk ikan ni bagi mati atau buang di atas tanah. Mereka tak nak ikan ni beranak pinak dan memenuhkan tali air di kawasan itu.

Saya pun tak tahu mengapa. Mungkin sebab ikan ni tak boleh dimakan. Sebab itu mereka suka bunuh ikan tu.

Dalam hati, saya rasa kesian dekat ikan tu. Timbul rasa ihsan di hati saya. Saya lihat ikan itu, mengodek ngodek ke kiri ke kanan mencari air.

Saya lihat, masih jauh ikan tu dengan air yang terdekat. Saya rasa mungkin ikan ni akan mati.

Tapi, saya nak pi ambil ikan ni dan buang ke dalam air nampak macam tak kena.

Takkan saya nak buat macam tu depan orang yang menjala tadi. Malu pulak dia dekat saya nanti.

Saya dalam dilema.

Kemudian, saya pusing pusing dulu dengan motor bawa anak saya. Saya fikir, lepas ni mesti orang menjala tu pi tempat lain. Masa tu lah saya ambil ikan ni.

Telahan saya tepat.

Selepas beberapa minit, saya kembali ke tempat itu dan orang itu sudah pergi ke tempat lain.

Saya lihat ke bendang yang kering tadi, dan saya tengok ikan itu masih lagi ada di situ.

Dalam hati saya, mesti ikan ni sedang melihat saya dan meronta ronta. "Tolong.... Tolong....."

Sambil mendukung anak saya, saya pergi ke dalam sawah yang kering itu ke arah ikan tersebut.

Sambil memegang ikan itu, saya bawa ke tepi air.

Masa tu, hati saya terfikir. "Kenapalah orang buang ikan ni. Tak kesian ka"

Sebelum saya buang ikan ini ke dalam air, saya berdoa kepada Allah.

"Ya Allah, aku ambil ikan ni dan buang ke dalam air semata mata kerana Mu ya Allah. Aku ikhlas kepada Mu ya Allah. Aku mohon kepada Mu, jika amalan ini Kau terima sebagai ibadah aku yang ikhlas. Aku mohon kepada Mu. Kau gantikanlah ia dengan sesuatu yang lebih baik untuk aku dunia dan akhirat."

Saya teringat, kisah seorang yang dimasukkan ke dalam syurga oleh Allah hanya semata mata kerana memberi air kepada anjing yang kehausan.

Hati saya terdetik, "Ya Allah, masukkan lah aku ke dalam syurga Mu dengan rahmat Mu tanpa dihisab"

Membantu Ikan Kelemasan Part 2

Waktu itu, terfikir juga saya. "Tak malunya aku, tolong ikan tu saja. Benda kecik ajer pun. Nak minta syurga tanpa di hisab daripada Allah."

vat

Arghhhh.... Apa salahnya aku nak minta. Bukan aku buat dosa pun. Kalau aku minta, Allah nak bagi Alhamdulillah. Lagi pun, kita semua masuk syurga bukan sebab amalan kita. 

Tapi sebab rahmat daripada Allah. Manalah tahu, itu amalan yang Allah 'pandang'. Tolong anjing bagi minum pun boleh masuk syurga, mana tahu tolong ikan ni boleh masuk syurga. Siapa tahu.

Namun, di lubuk hati saya. Saya tetap berdoa. "Ya Allah, murahkan rezeki aku."

Selepas itu, saya terus berkongsi cerita dengan seorang sahabat saya, Azman.

"Hang tahu apa jadi dengan aku hari ni Man?"

"Allah bagi kat aku rezeki yang aku tak sangka. Allah bagi rezeki kat aku dalam 5 angka. Subhanallah. Banyak gila."

"Allahuakbar!!! Banyak gila" Azman mencelah.

Syukur Alhamdulillah. Saya benar benar tak sangka.

Allah Maha Besar. Allah Maha Berkuasa.

Allah boleh memberi rezeki kepada sesiapa sahaja yang dikehendaki Nya.

Kalau Allah nak bagi, tiada siapa yang boleh menghalang. Adakalanya, kita tak perlu fikir yang besar besar untuk buat baik.

Mungkin, banyak perkara perkara kecik yang kita pandang remeh dan kita rasa tak penting. Tetapi, mungkin itu yang Allah pandang.

Pengajaran

Daripada kisah yang saya kongsikan ini, terlalu banyak pengajaran yang boleh kita ambil.

1. Kita mesti mempunyai sifat ihsan kepada haiwan atau makhluk Allah yang lain. Bantulah dengan apa yang kita boleh bantu. Jangan risau, jika kita ikhlas Allah akan balas dengan ganjaran yang lebih besar. Jika Allah tak beri di dunia. Yakinlah, Allah akan beri di akhirat nanti.

2. Apabila kita nak bersedekah, berikan yang terbaik kepada mereka yang mahu kita sumbangkan. Kalau nak derma, beri yang terbaik apa yang kita ada. Pada waktu itu, berdoalah agar Allah gantikan sesuatu dengan yang lebih baik.

3. Sentiasa yakin rezeki kita Allah yang tentukan. Tugas kita, berusaha, berdoa, bertawakkal. Insya Allah kita berjaya. Kalau Allah nak bagi, tiada siapa yang boleh halang. Kalau Allah dah tak nak bagi, tiada siapa yang boleh bantu.

4. Jagalah hubungan dengan Allah. Sentiasa yakin dengan Allah. Insya Allah,selangkah kita mendekatkan diri dengan Allah. Seribu langkah Allah mendekatkan diri dengan kita.

Mudah mudahan, kisah ini sedikit sebanyak dapat memberi manfaat kepada kita semua.

Kucing Dan Udang Kering

Satu hari, seorang sahabat berkongsi cerita ...

"Mior, sebenarnya aku tak suka kucing. Satu hari tu, ada satu kucing datang mai rumah aku. Aku tengok kucing tu, kesian dia. Nampak macam dia lapar. Nampak kurus saja.

Waktu tu, aku tengok dapur rumah aku tak ada apa yang aku nak bagi. Tiba tiba, aku ternampak udang kering ada sikit kat dapur aku. Aku ambil udang kering tu, aku bagi kat kucing tu."

Waktu tu aku cakap dalam hati. "Kucing oi, udang kering ni saja lah rezeki yang aku boleh bagi kat hang".

Nak buat macam mana, waktu tu udang kering tu saja yang ada di rumah dia. Tapi, satu perkara. Sahabat saya ini memberi dengan ikhlas apa yang dia ada.

Tahu tak apa terjadi kepada sahabat saya ini selepas itu?

Waktu tengah hari, beliau keluar dari rumah. Selepas pulang dari rumah. Beliau ternampak ada satu bungkus plastik tergantung di pintu pagar rumah dia.

Selepas dia buka plastik itu. Dia terkejut kerana dalam plastik itu ada banyak udang yang sudah siap di masak. Bukan udang kecil, tapi udang yang tersangat besar. Kalau dikedai makan, seekor dijual hampir RM15. Dan ada banyak ekor dalam plastik itu.

Beliau terkejut. Ya Allah. Pagi tadi aku bagi udang kering tersisa dekat dapur rumah aku. Petang ini Allah gantikan dengan udang besar yang sudah siap dimasak.

Selepas di cari, akhirnya beliau tahu ada sahabat beliau yang hantarkan udang itu ke rumahnya.

Alhamdulillah.

Kisah ini memberi banyak pengajaran kepada beliau. Ya, bila kita ikhlas memberi, membantu makhluk lain walaupun ia hanyalah seekor kucing 'kurap', tapi ia sangat besar di sisi Allah Taala.

Kita beri sedikit, tetapi Allah beri banyak gantinya.