Caring for the sick

Ever since they were small, they've been taught to care for each other when they're sick. I remember when S would sit by N's head and hold the bowl for her to throw up in. I would also tell them to bring water for the sick sibling. Alhamdulillah, throughout the years, I do believe they know how to care for each other when one of them is sick.

This really paid off last night when I was the one who was sick. We had gone out after Asr. I was feeling fine, but after a while I started feeling dizzy and my body started to ache. I had chills too. By the time we got home, I was feverish, and I spent the night under two blankets on the couch, still clad in my abaya and socks, while the family reveled in the unusually pleasant warm weather we've been having in early winter.

When I woke up, hubby and H had gone to the masjid, and S and N were sitting on the floor, reading, while Baby Z sat in his chair blabbering while sucking his hand. I motioned for S to give Baby Z to me, as I knew that he wanted to nurse. It was his bedtime. As I sat up and nursed Baby Z, S and N began to peel the clementines we had bought, one after another. S asked me if I wanted any, I weakly nodded.

Before long, both N and S were feeding me sections of clementines while I nursed Baby Z, who, in the beginning even pulled away from the nipple with each section of clementines popped in my mouth. After a while, he continued nursing, which lasted for maybe an hour.

Even while I was pregnant, the kids showed a lot of mercy to me by helping me with my socks, my shoe laces and getting me stuff I couldn't get up to get myself. Alhamdulillah.

I couldn't help but think of the story of Ibn Umar and the man who had carried his mother on back from Persia all the way to Makkah for hajj while S and N were feeding me clementines.

The man asked Ibn Umar,

"Have I repaid my mother?"

Ibn Umar replied,

"Not even by one contraction, for she did things for you out of pure love while you do this out of debt and you are just waiting for her to die."

May Allah make my girls into righteous wives and mothers and grant them a special place in Jannah.

As for my boy, he asked me,

"Ummi, are you tired?"

He may need a little more training in nurturing, but so far, he's been very well trained in doing housework from hubby's modeling, alhamdulillah.

May Allah make my boys into righteous husbands and fathers and preserve the Quran in their hearts.

Ameen.