My Cup Is Already Full

Last updated on: October 7, 2011 at 5:00 am by Admin GrowMama

My Cup Is Already Full 2011-10-07T05:00:35-04:00 Admin GrowMama

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

In focusing on my everyday life I find that I can unconsciously tune out the world around me. Maybe I don’t check my e-mails or my Facebook page for a day or two, or don’t watch the news on TV. I am not trying to be ignorant of what’s going on locally and globally, it just happens. But I wonder sometimes if I am subconsciously tuning out. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t feel good to “forget” about the suffering of others for a little while. Why does it feel good? Because when it comes to the suffering of others, whether it’s family or a complete stranger; I feel it. It hurts. And what hurts the most is the feeling that I can’t do anything about it. I can pray, I can protest, write letters to Congress, etc; but I can’t stop it. I can’t make it go away. My magic wand just doesn’t work.

As I type this, I’m thinking about the uprisings in Syria. The famine in Somalia. Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan… And to bring it all back to my own backyard, how about the rising murder rate in New Orleans? It’s enough to make anyone close up shop on the world. After all, my cup is already full, I have my own self and my family to care for and worry about.

But I always go back to the suffering of the world. Why? Because I feel that is what Allah wants me to do, wants us all to do. Even if all I do is pray, think, and worry, I’m doing something. I’m staying engaged with the world that Allah created and I am staying connected with His Creation. Allah created us to know one another, or at least to try. To care for and about each other, even if we’ve never actually met. Our compassion will never match that of Allah’s, and we can’t do anything without His Will, but if we care, if we feel that pain in our hearts, that pain that we can’t ease, then maybe we are doing all that Allah wants us to do.

Ambata Kazi-Nance

Ambata is a native New Orleanian and mother to a two year old son. She is currently working on a master’s degree in English Literature. She has just started blogging at MORmama.

Motherhood Reflections

Previous Post

October 5, 2011

Growmama Roundup: Raising bilingual children

Next Post

October 10, 2011 Taking my 20-month-old to the Grocery Store

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Book and Movie Reviews Community Connecting with Allah Counselor's Corner Environment fatherhood five stars GrowBaba Spotlight GrowMama Picks Growmama Roundup Health Light Fare marriage Motherhood Reflections moving Parenthood Photography Poems Schooling Self-development tragedy Tutorials Uncategorized

Select a Month December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 November 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the ruler of Egypt during Joseph's time?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Nebuchadnezzar Caesar Pharaoh Cyrus