Hello 2nd March 2022 - 72 (Seventy-two) months on - (6) Six years on - Oh, Dearest Mum Bathqyomo Marine Khoury-Issa......... ???? ??????? ??? ??????

Hope you are all well, despite what the human kind is going through, in addition to the pandemic of COVID19, we are now witnessing the refugees leaving their homes seeking new places... We pray.

Allow me to commence this article with a simple prayer that I borrowed from page seven of 'The Spiritual Treasure on Canonical Prayer' by Mor Ignatius Ephrem Barsoum, Patriarch of antioch and all the East (1957+). Thus, join me as we need prayers at such difficult time the human kind is passing through:

'O Christ, Who did save us by Your suffering from going astray, accept our worship and have mercy upon us. To You O my Lord, is due praise, to Your father all honour, and to the Holy Spirit adoration and exaltation. May Your mercy and compassion be upon us, sinners. May the gates of the heavenly Jerusalem be opened unto us, that our prayers may enter before the very throne of Christ. Glory be to You, O our Lord. Glory be to You, O our Lord. Glory be to You O our hope forever. Bless my Lord.'

May God hear our prayers.

Good day to all on this Wednesday the 2nd of March 2022, the second day of Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. The 2nd of each month is considered by me as how many months have passed since the eternal sleep of my Mum, Bathqyomo Marine Khoury-Issa. Indeed, this 2nd of March 2022 which is also Wednesday marks the 72nd month since that Wednesday afternoon on 2nd March 2016, when drastic change of our lives as we know it hit us as individuals and as family. They say time will heal, but the heartache continues, and what is really helping me coping is my faith that Mum is in a better place, and she is now an angle who is looking after us, and taking care of us as she always took care of us. Yet, missing you very dearly Oh Mum.

Indeed, miss you very dearly, and continue to this day remember the great deeds and immense help you rendered towards us, and this have been put by a poet in a poem that I read on the calendar for March 2022:

Dearest Mum

I would like you to know that I do notice and appreciate all the many things you do for me. [This really matches though you are not with us in flesh, but we are sure you continue to care for us... additionally, I guess you always knew, that we noticed and very highly appreciated everything you have done for all of us, just recalling what you did brings joy to our hearts, smiles to our mouths and tears to our eyes...]

It is particularly appreciated when you have already given so much of yourself and still find that little extra energy to light up our lives. [Yes, Mum, until the last days in flesh you found the extra energy to take care of everything, and lighten the burdens that life brings on everyone... oh how much we miss that hug, that smile that touch which used to bring back strength and stamina to move on and on and on... but, we know that you are watching over us, thus, we are strengthened by Your spirit oh Mum...]

You have so much patience and perseverance. [You were always acting in line with the teachings of the Bible, very tolerant with kindness, and taught us perseverance in chasing our goals for the benefit of the family, the community, the society and the world]

I am in awe of you. [I was and will always be ... Oh Mum]

You are an angel! [You were an angel when you were among us in flesh, and now you are an angel watching over us].

You are such an inspiration. [You inspired us, and your spirit continues to inspire us]

Knowing your safe and secure support is always there for me has given me great strength and encouraged me to do my best. [Though we miss that physical support, but looking at your smiling images around the house, and recalling those beautiful moments we would be encouraged to continue to do our best... Oh Mum]

Mum as I have grown, I have come to understand that the role of MOTHER can be overwhelming, especially when times get tough. [There were times when it was very difficult, changing countries/continents, surviving wars... but you always demonstrated strength and unimaginable ability to cope... Oh Mum]

Your willingness to overcome all the obstacles has meant the solutions to the problems are always close at hand with your tender care. [Indeed, Oh Mum, you always depended on God the Almighty and felt that obstacles are there to strengthen us, facing them heads on and encouraging us to do the same as you engulfed us with you hands and tender care].

Your love seems to conquer all. [Oh Mum ... what a great love, your acts of love, kindness, respect, honesty and loyalty are traits that you instilled in us... trying...]

You are the perfect MUM to me.?[More than perfect... Oh Mum]

Yes, Mum, you always urged us to be us, take advantage of the good life, and your words I have read in a poem for the month of March 2022:

You were always telling us: Go out and seize the day! It is yours to enjoy. Take a walk along the beach, breathe the fresh air and let the sun shine in your life. Happiness is yours for the taking. Reach out and let your spirits soar. Be open to experiencing something new each day.?The world is ever changing seek out the positives that can enrich your life. Take a little time for yourself and do something that you enjoy. Music, food reading, creating, travelling, socializing, sport… whatever makes you happy! Your happiness is important and easily overflows to those around you. Happiness brings positivity, this world continues to turn, always moving forward, always changing. This world is here for you, you may find… JOY AND HAPPINESS?

Indeed, you always encouraged us to pursue joy and happiness... we were joyful and happy, it is extremely difficult to feel the same joy and happiness without you with us in flesh... oh Mum.

Now, and as it was usually the case when we sit at the backyard to have our coffee after I come back from work, prior to dinner, you would be reading the Holy Bible, and we would just go into discussion of what you were reading. Thus, here, I would share the following verses which I feel are relevant these days. I can feel the human kind repeating with the Psalmist saying, we are needy, and seeking God the Almighty to deliver us...

Despite what is going on in the world and as you taught me, I continue to take my strength from My God and my Lord surrendering my life to Him... being my light and my strength thus, I do not fear...

Indeed, no matter what is going around in the world, I am sure and have confident that God the Almighty who calmed the storm, would calm the world... we pray.

Oh Mum... when I recall those times, I feel sad, but I have hope and have great faith that you are in a better place, looking after us.

Oh Mum... Your garden, and despite the very hot summer continues to be generous, and giving generously:

As it is usually the case on the annual commemoration of your eternal sleep, in this entry, I intend to go on a journey trying to highlight the articles that I have shared since the 2nd of March 2016, the day when change happened and the effect of that change continues to be felt to this day. Since that day, I have been trying to record my feelings, sharing some beautiful images of my Mum, and what she taught me among other things. This was done on monthly basis, and on some important occasions. As done on 2nd March 2021, to follow will provide gif files of the main images of each of the entries. All the entries are available under my account on Linkedin account.

In the usual manner I conclude this entry with this Syriac hymn that was shared earlier, received from Touma:

Again, and again I am thankful and grateful to God the Almighty who honoured and blessed me to be the daughter of Bathqyomo Marine Khoury-Issa, and thank you all for taking the time to go through this article.

On behalf of the Issa Family

Your Eldest daughter

Theodora Issa

PS:?Theodora acknowledges the sources used in coming up with this entry including the Issa Family archives for Mum's image shared in this entry, also some collected beautiful flowers, trees and other plants in the garden images that Theodora photographed this month, the two calendars of March 2022. Also, Lamsa Holy Bible, and the Department of Syriac Studies and teh Spiritual Treasure on Canonical Prayer by Mor Ignatius Ephrem Barsoum (1957+).