A time to reflect...

Ramadhan is here again...

Even before Ramadhan there are already cooking programmes on TV specifically for Hari Raya. There are also lots of promos from hotels and restaurants for special Berbuka Puasa deals. Not forgetting the Bazaar Ramadhan everywhere. I thought we are supposed to eat less in Ramadhan… but somehow it appears as though every year, Ramadhan is the “food fest” month. Funny isn’t it?

And soon, trust me, we’ll be seeing the various promos for Raya entertainment programmes. Amongst them would include promos of movies and more movies which have no significance whatsoever to the month of Syawal – Malay movies, English movies, Hindustan movies… just name them…

For those who intend to balik kampong for the coming Raya using public transportation, I bet the rush to book tickets is already on (and with problems involving bus drivers and all, it will be crazy). Ah, and not forgetting, there’d be some people who are now desperately looking for tailors who are still willing to take their orders for baju raya.

Anyway, no matter what you intend to eat for sahur or berbuka puasa, no matter what your plans are for this year’s Raya, let’s spare some thought for the unfortunate ones.

Spare a thought for... the orphans. No parents to spend their Ramadhan or Syawal with. No kampong to go back to.

Spare a thought for... the poor. They hardly earn enough to get one decent meal daily. Unlike us, even though we can't eat during the daytime in Ramadhan, we still get to eat what we want at night.

Spare a thought for... the homeless people. While we sleep in the comfort of our own beds and mattresses, there are people out there who sleep on the pavements... no mattresses, just old newspapers.

Spare a thought for... those in war torn countries. While we here are taking life for granted, the people in the war torn countries are lucky if they have a safe shelter to stay under. We only have to bear with the sounds of firecrackers and home-made meriam buluh (ban or no ban, we’d still hear lots of those putus jari stories!), there are people out there who live in fear of deadly gunshots and bombings.

Spare a thought for... the Palestine refugees. Some of them may be staying in safe refugee camps in neighbouring countries, but how nice can their Eid be when they are uncertain of when they'll be able to return to a land they can call home.

Spare a thought for... the elderly people staying in old folks homes. When other old folks wait in excitement for their children to come home, imagine the loneliness of the old folks who have to spend their Hari Raya without the presence of children and grandchildren.

Spare a thought for… the HIV infected or affected families who are being marginalized… they need love and compassion, yet they get stigma and discrimination…

Yes, spare some thoughts for them and reflect on ourselves...

Are we grateful for the family and friends that we have? Or are we bitter over certain things that certain people have done?

Are we grateful for all that we have achieved? Or are we unhappy over the things that we failed to achieve?

Are we grateful for the chance to try and try again if we fail? Or do we feel hopeless every time we fail?

Are we grateful for all the love that we can share? Or are we the unloving kind of people who couldn't care less what happens to others?

You cannot be grateful and bitter.

You cannot be grateful and unhappy.

You cannot be grateful and without hope.

You cannot be grateful and unloving.

SO JUST BE GRATEFUL.

Yes, let’s just be grateful. Let’s be grateful by using this blessed month to spread love and good deeds to fellow beings. And let’s continue the love and good deeds even after Ramadhan is over.

To all Muslim readers of this blog, may you have a meaningful Ramadhan. To all the rest, we can all spread love and good deeds, can’t we? Every day, every month, throughout the year, throughout our lives…