Reflections on Last Evening’s Gathering
Yesterday was the day I gathered my dad’s and mom’s family at my home for lunch and dua’a.
It was lovely and sweet to meet my family especially that we don’t meet very often.
Normally after every gathering I ask myself the following questions:
How did it go?
How was the meal? Did everyone like it and enjoy it?
How was the set-up? Was everyone feeling comfortable and at ease?
Did I pay attention to every single detail?
Did I serve my guests properly and made them feel comfortable?
Did I chat with all and give them the hospitality they deserve?
Because of my negative inner talk, I often catch myself focusing on the negative points like:
You didn’t serve them well.
You took extra time to eat lunch while your guests finished before you.
You didn’t give them proper hospitality
You were not there when they needed you.
You allowed the girls to have the desserts before the adults could finish the dua’a.
You didn’t play all the downloaded nasheed playlist for mawlid nabawi.
The dua’a was too long and you made some of your guests tired and exhausted.
It is interesting to see how my inner dialogue works. After such gatherings, you can say I am mentally and emotionally fatigued more than my physical body. It is the thought of worrying about my guests and I really want them to feel welcomed and special in my home.
I also like to mention the sweet moments we had.
The time my grandmother told me: Allah will bless you with endless blessings.
The time several of my guests hugged me and prayed positivity for the new home.
During the house tour when my grandmother told me: Don’t pressurize yourself. You can’t do everything at once.
The sweet moment when I and my cousins were arguing : I should serve you lunch.
Those moments bring me back to my childhood and teenage years when every occasion I used to spend with them. I miss those days and I cherish them always.
I also like to remember the happy faces when I gave them food parcels and thanked them warmly for accepting the invite and joining the gathering.
Thanks Allah. I pray for such treats and gatherings to repeat always and often.