Allah Knows Best

(The view across our kampung house many years ago is as green and serene as this. With development, it is no more although it is good that the sawah has been converted to cash- converting banana and mango orchards by the landowners instead of leaving the sawah fallow for ever. Now, we have to go to Langkawi, Kedah or Bali to soothe our souls with such picturesque calm....the above is Ubud, August 2007. A treat to self, sis , niece and brother after my 6th and final chemo. Had a whale of a time ( or rather "a dolphin of a time" ) as we went to swim with the dolphins there..... !

I came across a poem many, many years ago ( author unknown). I thought it was quite meaningful and had printed a copy to place in a Scrapbook File. I came across it recently while spring cleaning my filing cabinet in kampung. I re-read it again, and again, From my current perspective, I had re-affirmed to myself that it is a poem worth keeping for reference now and again. It is not Wordsworth or Shakespeare, but it is more relevant to me than any of of Wordsworth or Shakespeare's work.....at this point in time. (I love both Williams though!)

Here's the poem: It is called " God Knows Best" - author unknown, and I seek his/her indulgence to let me call it "Allah Knows Best" as it applies to me...

ALLAH KNOWS BEST

Allah knows what's best for us

so why should we complain

we always want sunshine

but Allah knows there must be rain

We always want laughter

and the merriment of cheer

but our heart will lose their tenderness

if we never shed a tear

Allah tests us often

with suffering or with sorrow

Allah tests us not to punish us

but to help us meet tomorrow

For growing trees are srtengthened

if they can withstand the storm

and the sharpness of the chisel

gave the marble it's grace and form

Allah tests us often

and for every pain Allah gives us

provided we are patient

is followed by some gain

So remember whenever we feel that

everything is going wrong

It is just Allah's way

to make the spirit strong.

-unknown author-

Insya Allah....