Hello 2nd March 2023 - 84 (Eighty-four) months on - (7) Seven years on - Oh, Dearest Mum Bathqyomo Marine Khoury-Issa......... ???? ??????? ??? ??????

Hello #2ndMarch2023 - 84 (Eighty-four) months on - (7) Seven years on - Oh, Dearest Mum Bathqyomo Marine Khoury-Issa......... ???? ??????? ??? ??????

I come to you this 2nd of March 2023, hoping that you are all well. Indeed, the beginning of 2023, has been difficult for everyone, especially with the recent #earthquakes in #Turkey and #Syria . We continue to pray for the repose of the souls of those who departed, the healing for those injured and impacted by the loss.

Allow me to commence this article by praying to God that all is well with you all. Will commence this article with one verse of the great poem written by #StEphremtheSyrian as published in "Hymns on Paradise" (Introduction and Translation by #SebastianBrook , 1990).

Introducing this hymn, #SebastianBrook , states: in this poem he turns to the joys of paradise which the righteous will experience at the Resurrection; these can only be described by means of both analogy and contrast with life on earth. Just as air is essential for all life here, so too in Paradise it is the spiritual counterpart of air which sustains all transfigured existence there (throughout this hymn one should recall that in Syriac the term 'ruha' ???? means both 'wind' and 'spirit/Spirit'). In order to appreciate the spiritual beauty of Paradise we need to refine and purify our vision; provided we do this, God will meet our desire for Him in whatever way is most appropriate for each individual.

In the world there is struggle, in Eden, a crown of glory.

at our resurrection

both earth and heaven will God renew (Isaiah 65:17, 66:22)

liberating all creatures, granting them paschal joy, along with us.

Upon our mother Earth, along with us, (Rom 8:21)

did He lay disgrace when He placed on her, with the sinner, the curse;

so together with the just, will He bless her too;

this nursing mother, along with her children,

shall He who is Good renew.

RESPONSE: Blessed is He who, in His Paradise, gives joy to our gloom.

So, we pray and repeat with St. Mark 11:24:

Hello again on this Thursday, the second day of March 2023. Here I come again to publish my monthly article on the 2nd of the month as on the 2nd of March 2016, life as I knew then, changed and changed forever. It was the day when my beloved Mum Bathqyomo Marine Khoury-Issa went into her eternal sleep. God repose your soul oh Mum. It is the pain that I felt, and I continue to feel in my heart... But, it is my belief that Mum is in a better place.

As I said previously, and ?I would always say, it seems the saying goes: "time will heal", but for me the heartache continues, and what is really helping me coping is my faith that Mum is in a better place, Yet, missing you very dearly Oh Mum.

Indeed, miss you very dearly, and continue to this day as we remember that gentle and warmest hugs, and this statement derived from a poem that I read from one the calendars in my room for March 2023:

Dearest Mum

Of all the special joys that can come in life, the big ones and the small ones, your love and tenderness are the most treasured of them all. [Oh Mum there is no match whatsoever to that great love and tenderness you displayed not only for us your children and family but for all... Oh Mum]

You have given so much, all from your heart, you always find the energy to do all the things you do, you are a teacher, a nurse and my confidant, full of endless words of wisdom, always with arms wide open, to give the most gentle and warmest hugs. [Indeed, we very dearly miss those gentle and warmest hugs, miss those chats deriving from your wisdom, miss that great energy around the house that did not stop to the last minute on this earth ... Oh Mum]

We have such a special bond, you are someone so very dear to me.?As I grow older, I have come to respect your values more and more each year. [Yes Mum, we had that special bond, not only as a Mother/Daughter but as best friends, you influenced me with the great values that you held very dear to your heart... Oh Mum].

I feel so valued and understood. [Mum... there were times that I did not need to say any word, but you would understand what is needed and what actions to be done... miss that very dearly... Oh Mum]

Your love has empowered my sense of self-confidence. [Following your example felt being empowered as you planted that self-confidence in me from young age, and kept on nurturing it].

Thank you for being my … Dearest Mum.?[It is the greatest honour of all that I can call such a wonderful person Mum... Oh Mum].

This month we have prayed - and the prayers and commemorations are in this presentation:

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

Now, 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. 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:

As I would always say, 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 calendar of March 2023. Also, Lamsa Holy Bible, and the Department of Syriac Studies and St Ephraim the Syrian Hymns on Paradise (introduction and translation Sabastian Brook 1999).