Life's Dreaded Moment

"Life is what happens to you when you are busy making other plans."-John Lennon
A friend shared this quotation on Facebook today and what a befitting day to share it than today. We were at the Richmond Masjid today for the Friday prayers and there we came across a lady who was mourning her Husband's death. The Husband's Janaza had been brought to the masjid for the Namaaz-e Janaaza (islamic funeral prayer). The family of four (husband, wife and 2 kids ages 4 and 2) had immigrated to Canada
from Pakistan 3 weeks ago.  Whether she had other extended family members here in Canada was unknown. The Imam urged us to pray for the deceased and to keep the bereaving family in our prayers. We offered our condolences to the lady and left the Masjid. Back in the car my thoughts were still with that lady.
Settling into a new country involves a lot of planning such as finding a place to live, calling that place your home, finding employment, exploring the city, so and and so forth. It never involves planning for a funeral. Just when the family was busy making plans for a secure future for themselves and their children, the most dreaded truth of life-death, sets in. It is life for sure.
After the Friday prayers, rushing to pick the kids from school is also life. From a moment of mourning and feeling sad, to a moment of anxiousness to reach the school on time and be there for the kids are the moments of truth that life is full of. It is these moments of truth that make up a life. We are living from one moment to another. Each day, I have a moment of happiness when I see the kids finish their breakfast and are all ready for school, a moment of frustration when I see clothes strewn all over the floor despite my repeated requests to put the dirty clothes in the hamper, a moment of uncertainty when I'm thinking what to cook, a moment of joy when I am talking to my Mom over the phone, a moment of reminiscing my Father who passed away on a Friday, 8 months ago. Moments such as these and some are the ones that make up a day, a week, a month, a year and finally a life.
No single moment lasts forever. So, even if it is the most dreaded moment in one's life, a moment of deep pain and sorrow,  it is sure to pass. May Allah give the bereaving family from Pakistan, strength and patience to overcome this difficult moment in their lives. Ameen.