Live Simple, Give Much_Gogo Rashieda Kotobe

Bismillah

Tonight (14 August 2013) with sadness and with heavy hearts we bid farewell and laid to rest one of the mothers and grandmothers of the present Ummah (community) of Islam.  I cannot account for the youthful years of our beloved Gogo but I can account for the impact she had on my youth. Meeting her at a young age before my teens was joy, as my own Gogo had just passed away. She was selling snacks and sweets and she gave me some for free.  A sweet Gogo full of smiles and generosity. A busy Gogo who still cooked with the old coal stove, chopped her own wood with an axe and still managed to make tea for you no matter your age. I am talking about a Lady who managed to complete the Hajj (Holy Pilgimage to Mecca)on her own feet. This is a Lady whom her much younger Hajj companions drew strength from and forged on because of her zeal to carefully and devotedly complete this Holy Pilgrimage.  

Live simple, give more are the first words that come to mind when I think of our beloved Gogo Rashieda. She looked after her children and grandchildren with dedication, and extended her complete love to the community.  Living  a simple lifestyle, she managed to welcome my family in her home so many times that it became our meeting point when we are around that area. If I am waiting for my parents I would go to her house and they would do the same if they are waiting for anybody else. Tea, biscuits, sweets and sandwiches are what she would prepare, and when I complain that I can prepare this myself, she would tell me that I am her guest and i should sit down.

I will never forget the day that I had to go for a job interview and she decided to babysit for me, I will not forget her kindness in my time of need and I hope and pray that I am always inspired to do the same for others.

I will miss her saying “Susho?” (really?) when she was surprised at what you were telling her. 

I thank Allah for all the kindness she had in her and May He make her journey in the next world a blessed and easy one. We will miss you dearly Gogo Rashieda.

Bad boys are just that, BAD!

Bad boys are just that, BAD!

Bismillah


Your Mama warns you about bad boys because she’s afraid you will lead a more exciting life than hers; how boring is your good father? Working all day and coming home to read the newspaper, make silly jokes and call you mother the Lady of the house! No ways! That is not your ideal man. Bad boys are exciting, adventurous, fun and full of trills. Bad boys steal kisses, own babes and ask for no permission to touch you, how exciting! Bad boys burp out loud and know how to curse, how flattering! Bad boys have an amatory way of sitting as if their spine is rubbery, they walk like they have been shot nine times and lean again buildings to prevent them from falling, how charming! They drive racy cars, and only choose the best babes to ride in them; they smoke the best cigarettes and nip on the coolest drinks, how sensual! Nevermind your heart, mind and soul! Bad boys are the ultimate fulfillment of your desires!  Let me introduce you to a different male specie, the Good Guys. They say “please” &” thank you”, greet you respectfully with a smile, and call you a lady. They talk gently and worship the ground that you walk on, and not forgetting to give way for you to pass. They take their plates to the sink after eating and burp in private. Their mothers mean the world to them and are not embarrassed to show it. They sit up straight and have a humble walk. But you… have been laughing horribly in their faces and calling them names such as ‘weirdoes’ and ‘mama’s boys’. You have been busy playing pranks on them and break their delicate hearts. You have been mocking their clean and neat clothing, and rolling your eyes when they try to talk to you. So here you are babe! Standing weak and dry like an Autumn leave, broken in may ways and left at the petrol station by that bad boy, and the stillness in you reminds you of that Good Guy who called you a lady and you ignored him. Here is your heart now, whispering a prayer.

Bags

This article was inspired by a baggage article written by a dear sister: Luyanda Sibisi This (these) luggage that we carry with us prevent us from being whole and sometimes they even exhaust us. Baggage weighs us down, and wears us out so much that we cannot completely give ourselves to the ones we love. Fear of being hurt again is one of women's favourite bags. It makes us hold back so much when we are supposed to be giving, and makes us incomplete beings thereby creating a mental barrier or even a spiritual wall between us and ultimate happiness and prevents us from reaching Allah Himself. Have you ever noticed that positive thoughts are so weightless? Hope, love and peace are so valuable but light on the heart. They do not weigh you down or wear you out. Unfortunately we have because fairly comfortable with carrying these bags that we hardly see the direct harm on ourselves. Bags come in all sort of sizes and styles. Let’s talk about physical bags and how our packing reflects on our personal & physical lives to spiritual bags. One of the huge items that we carry in our spiritual bags is fear. What type of a packer are you? There are many types of packers out there. There is the just in case packer (more fearful than cautious packer). This type of packer is literally a step away from traveling with her entire house, everything is essential! She is fearful and does not feel comfortable without her huge bag i.e. the house. It is highly possible for her bring her own pots to the trip, and if she is your visitor by the time you get to her room to offer her some tea, she has already taken out her own kettle and cup. Precaution is important only when done in moderation. The good thing about the fearful packer is that her clothes are neatly packed and categorised. Everything is labelled and no matter how trivial, it has a purpose just in case she might needs it. She similarly does not open her heart easily, just in case you hurt her. This type of baggage is very heavy as it comes with a tight lock with numerous codes by the time you open the first lock you find other lock connected to other baggages, what am i saying. sister loosen up a bit, the more baggage you have the more difficult it is for another person to help you unpack, yes I know you have a name for all your stories but you do not need to carry them everywhere you go. Life sometimes offers us many days on the beach, where you just need to bring your water bottle to enjoy, & in your screen a sunscreen as well will be good, just in case you run into pure thirsty joy that will need your help. To be continued…