I wish the world knew the power of love… and how we are so blinded and distracted that we forget to wrap our kids with it.
Who me? Jealous? Because a teacher in Colorado gave her students an assignment that went viral and showed us what it really means to be considerate and kind? No I’m fine with that! Why? Is it coz I’m slowly turning green? Hey that’s umm… you know, food coloring from baking a cake! It’s not coz I’m jealous of her taking such an amazing Islamic-based initiative!
Oh don’t give me that look! I’m not lying. My nose is just getting bigger coz I’m a big fan of Pinocchio or you know, perhaps it’s nature’s way of telling me to get a nose job!
Fine, I admit it. I’m so over-the-top jealous but it’s not the ugly or envious kind; it’s the protective jealousy that Allah loves. It’s me covering my face and going down to my knees, like when a professional soccer player misses a goal kick or something. This is me squealing “Ahhhhhhhhh why didn’t we think of this first? When this kind of care, proactivity and compassion is the true core of Islam?”
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You know what I’m talking about, right? That thoughtful third grade teacher who gave her students an assignment titled “I wish my teacher knew…” and the stories spread like a tornado, touching the hearts of adults and children all around the world.
Responses of third graders included heartbreaking realizations like “I wish my teacher knew I don’t have a pencil at home to do my homework” and “I wish my teacher knew I have no friends to play with.”
Innocent eight-year-olds stunned us with a reality we’ve been staring at but too busy to see. And amidst all these sighs and tears, I can’t help but feel jealous because other people are applying our most fundamental teachings and practices while we are too busy debating and defending coz we are ALWAYS under attack!.
It’s out of love that I want to shout it from the rooftop, “Read our Holy Qur’an! We share the same noble notions and have the same goal! Mercy and understanding is what our Prophet (PBUH) taught us 1400 years ago! This is who WE are!”
I shouldn’t let my competitive nature swirl this into a mere recordkeeping of who scored first. (Do you have any idea how hard that is? LOL). It just makes me wonder about all of the enthusiastic Muslims who did make a difference but were not recognized by the media or even publicly praised.
Either way, this teacher still deserves our admiration and respect regardless, whether she’s Muslim or non-Muslim. She showed us a different perspective and got us thinking about the things our own children wish we knew. She turned our heads towards our own classrooms and teachers and homes and whispered lovingly “Look deeper… there’s so much more than meets the eye.”
| The simple hash tag of #What I Wish My Teacher Knew speaks volumes in a language that only the heart of a believer can understand. It’s a step towards a better future, where our kids feel respected and appreciated. |
Did I mention I’m not the least bit jealous of that? LOL
So Now What?
I’m a little biased and over-protective just like a lot of you. I have this urging desire to see Islam rise and see Muslims change the world to the better. I dream about that day when our actions speak louder than our words and of us going back to cherish our Islamic values because that’s the only way we will ever move forward.
The simple hash tag of #What I Wish My Teacher Knew speaks volumes in a language that only the heart of a believer can understand. It’s a step towards a better future, where our kids feel respected and appreciated. It’s at that critical age of innocence and naivety that we must seize the opportunity to teach, guide and understand.
We need to stop running in circles to chase the things our kids need the least. We need to stop and breathe! Breathe the beauty and glory of the new generation and take the time to prepare them to lead the way before it’s too late. Our little ones are fighting battles of their own, are facing problems they’re not sure how to deal with. They’re scared and unsure and all they need is for us to listen. For us to face our fears and uncover the secrets we are trying so hard to ignore.
What I Wish The World Knew
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So here’s a new assignment for you. Given the chance, what would you stand up and say to the world? What would you confess to? Where is the truth we are born to reveal?
I wish the whole world knew how peaceful and merciful Islam really is, and how it’s our obligation as Muslims to invite others to the path of the One and Only God with love and wisdom. I wish the world could see how our Holy Book is the answer to all their problems, the ultimate guidance to every lost soul and the most soothing balm to every broken heart…
I wish the world knew the power of love… and how we are so blinded and distracted that we forget to wrap our kids with it. I wish the world knew that every minute counts, and every smile heals and every warm embrace is worth a million worlds and more….
We should be proud of women like Ms. Schwartz, the third grade teacher who finally highlighted the importance of children’s ‘emotional’ needs. Who is an inspiration to teachers, parents and authority figures because she implements our beloved Prophet’s teachings, the one man who changed the world.
“He who is deprived of tenderly feelings is in fact deprived of good.” (Sahih Muslim 2592)
This is who we are. We are not terrorists or killers or narrow-minded barbarians. We are the true noble leaders of all time. And yet all our admiration and respect goes to such teachers who have become new heroes. Thank you for bringing back that sense of security to our youth. You really make us proud… Insanely jealous… but proud :)
