LESSON OF THE DAY 1148

Ayahs of the Day:
Believers, be conscious of God and believe in the messenger of God: God gives you a double portion of divine mercy, and provides you light to go by, and forgives you. For God is forgiving, merciful, so the people of scripture may know that they have no control over anything of God's bounty, and that the bounty is in the hand of God, who bestows on anyone at will; and God is possessor of the greatest bounty. [57: 28,29]

Hadith of the Day:
In every generation of my nation there will be those who outrun all others (in doing good). [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
The sign of good deeds that are precursors of great harm is that when we undertake them, we feel a great sense of elation and pride in what we have done. [Imam Birgivi]

Guidance of the Day:
Each one of us has an opportunity to choose how we will view all the experiences in our lives. We can choose to see our lives and each and every event in our lives as a gift! Imagine what life could be if we were delighted by and appreciative of everything that happens to us, every human encounter, every mood change, and every kind of event that occurs. We would not then judge events or people as good or bad, as pleasant or unpleasant, as wanted or unwanted. We would appreciate all of it.

Imagine how powerful it could be to see the opportunity in a loss, the opportunity to feel deeply, to have known such love or the opportunity to learn to let go, to pick ourselves up and begin life newly, differently than before, or the opportunity to feel compassion for someone else who hurts, too. Imagine taking on life with new vigor or in a new way after an illness or an accident. Imagine choosing to stop suffering NOW! [Tatelbaum, You Don't Have to Suffer]

Food for Thought:
Permanence, perseverance, and persistence inspite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities. It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak. Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance. Old age is not a matter for sorrow. It is a matter of thanks if we have left our work done behind us.