7. What character traits do you admire most about your parents?

Willingness to sacrifice, to live out their faith despite the complacency of so many around them, firmness in upholding what they believe in and believe their children should be entitled to (even though we absolutely should not be): education at the best schools we were accepted into despite all costs and their comfort being jeopardized as a result, for example.

All of which are an outflow of the great magnitude of love in their hearts, which is blatant and undeniable. I am very blessed, very spoiled, in all meanings of the words. Still don’t understand why I’ve been given such a wonderful upbringing, but you know… “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more” (Luke 12:48).

And for being given such a good example of love, I want to do the same, be the same and much more, if that’s possible. I’m still learning, though, and a ways to go…

All I want to do is make people proud, make my parents proud. But when they’re gone, what will I have left?

…all I want to do is make my Father proud. But it’s not, is never, by my own doing.

Someday.

Philippians 1:6

#1: Having parents of the same faith as me; and more generally, having parents who just overall support my decision to be a Christian.

A, I’m praying for you. I didn’t realize the magnitude of how serious breaking the news to your Muslim parents was…you are so brave. I’m praying. And anyone else who is reading this—can you please pray, too? Obeying your parents when they want you to cut out the community that acts like a backbone to your relatively new decision; this I cannot even fathom.

—

There is no height or depth
Neither life nor death
That can take me from all that I find
Here now in Your glory, Lord

No other powers or love
The things of now or to come
There’s nothing on earth in this life
That could ever separate us, Lord

Your love is never ending
To your hands we surrender
Where all our sins are washed away
Your grace beyond reason
Has paid for our freedom
We’re made alive in You

We run to Your throne
Where we belong
Every heart will sing
That Jesus is Lord
Casting all else aside
For the joy of our Christ
Let Your glory fall
Our hearts are filled with Your fire

No other powers or love
The things of now or to come
There’s nothing on earth in this life
That could ever separate us, Lord

—

(And the tears start falling. Petty, petty, petty…what are my struggles but fear of the world’s opinion of me? Lord of all, Lord over everything, only You are worthy of my fear and trembling. My obedience starts now. I have nothing of my own to be bitter, sad about.

1 Thessalonians 5:18: Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.)

After years of enduring through constantly broken desktop/laptop computers, and more recently, suffering through using my completely obliterated Dell for 2 months (not to mention entirely in French, since the settings are broken too?) because all our other electronic devices at home decided to die in synchronization…

Saying hi from my parents’ new iMac! :)

(I’m so glad they can finally experience the simple joys of perfect aestheticism…and something that hopefully won’t give them random viruses and random shut-downs. An indulgence fit for the parents who always indulge in us children :’)…yayayay!)