Hello 2nd October 2021 - 67 (sixty-seven) months on the eternal sleep of my Mum Bathqyomo Marine Khoury-Issa - ???? ??????? ??? ??????

Hello all, on this 2nd day of October 2021. Indeed, here I come again on the 2nd of the month. This time it is ?Saturday the 2nd of October 2021. As it has been the case for the last months, the second of each month can only be recognized and counted by me as to how many months since I felt the big change in my life, the day when my Mum went into her eternal sleep. This is the sixty-seventh month since that day of 2nd March 2016, the day of the eternal sleep of my Mum Bathqyomo Marine Khoury-Issa. May God repose her soul. Amen.

That day was really difficult, and the days after were unbearable, how could we manage, how could we keep going on without that big smile and immense love. Well, as you taught us Mum, we depended on God the Almighty, with whom nothing is impossible. Indeed, we took t refuge in our faith, deriving from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke saying: For nothing is impossible for God. (Luke 1:37).

Thus, we all gave our ears, minds and hearts to God the Almighty, and in the way that we learnt from the Old Testament in the first book of Samuel, 'Therefore, Eli said to Samuel, Go back and lie down; and it shall be, if he calls you, you shall say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant hearts. So Samuel went back and lay down in his place.' Indeed, we listened to God's voice, that comforted our hearts and minds, but we still miss you very dearly oh Mum...

Well Mum in the usual manner, I have been reading, and this month's poem on the Blue Mountain (October 2021) seems to be also talking my heart and mind about you oh dear Mum:

Ode to Mum…

A house is built with steel and bricks

A home is built with love and trust [our home with your great efforts was built with love and trust, and now your spirit continues to guide us all through love and trust].

A house has pipes and walls

A home has memories and stories [our home is full of memories and stories, in the kitchen, it is Mum watching over what we would be cooking, we would remember how you would say, do not use that - use this, add this do not add that etc... oh Mum... wonderful memories... in the lounge we remember how you always kept that place neat and clean. In the dinning room we recall the beautiful food you shared with us, trying to imitate - we wonder if we can reach that mastery and superiority in completing your tasks to perfection. Or if we go to the garden, trying our best to please your plants who miss you too... and, and, and, and, memories are bringing smiles to our faces that conquer the tears... ]

A house includes bedrooms and a kitchen

A home includes love, laughter, and soul [Oh Mum, how much we miss the love and care, those huge hugs, and that smile, also the laughter we shared at every occasion, I cannot forget the laughs that we shared when we used to go for our daily walk around the park... how beautiful and how simple life was... oh... your soul brought happiness and continues to bring smiles to all of us to this day... just the thought of you Mum brings smiles, it is your soul and spirit within us that continues to guide us and cares for us].

A house is constructed by a builder

A home is created by a Mum. [This is very true - as you had exerted gigantic efforts in our motherland, and in our new homeland, all this was done with love, care and great sacrifice... we miss you Mum].

I know how you do [did] it all…

L…O…V…E [Indeed, you were motivated by LOVE to all... oh Mum].

Thank you so much? [Words will never be sufficient to express our thanks to you oh Mum].

Indeed, you led in your personal life and your professional life with LOVE... and your leadership is unique, no one can master it other than you oh Mum...

Yes, I have read another poem from the Blue Mountain for October 2021, and this is about gratitude, which is something that you always encouraged us to display throughout our lives, first to God the Almighty for blessing us, and to the fellow humans around us, as each and everyone we meet would teach us something no matter what... that is what you usually taught us, therefore, it is appropriate to share this poem here:

Gratitude is now

It lives in the present tense. [Oh Mum, you always taught us to demonstrate gratitude when it is due, without any delay - so, the following lines describe, and brings back beautiful memories of what you taught us and guided us throughout in order to show our gratitude in life when it is due and in the NOW...]

It accepts the past and does not rely on the future.

Its gift is Now, unconditionally, not on some false hope creating future anxiety, or regrets for the past actions or ill-considered words.?It accepts only Now.

The treasure of the gift of gratitude is in the Now that the many little acts of kindness are given.

These are cherished moments in the Now.

They encourage and create a positive chain reaction.

The culmination of these many kind acts, many of which may be compassionate, can lead to positive outcomes.?

The essential factor is taking the action Now, starting the flow of positive thoughts and actions are the steps towards creating happiness.

Oh Mum, whatever I say and write, there is still more and more in the heart and mind, but we are sure and as St. Paul teaches us in his epistle to the Romans, that without saying God will hear us, and hear our prayers... 'Likewise the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we do not know what is right and proper for us to pray for; but the Spirit prays for us with the earnestness which cannot be described.'?(Romans 8:26).

In addition to teaching us to depend on God, and pray, Mum you always taught us to love (not to hate), to depend on God (not to worry), live in a simple way (never complicate issues), to always expect little in life (saving us from disappointments), always give a lot (be generous), always face life with a smile (oh Mum, if we can replicate your attractive smile), and most importantly always keep in touch with God the Almighty seeking guidance always, and walking through His Divine will. So, indeed, we depend on God... Indeed, as you taught us commit everything we do to God, trust Him, and He will help us - as the book of Psalms teaches too:

Indeed, it is the second month of Spring, and the garden is very generous following the beautiful winter and heavy rain... Thank God for the blessings.

Indeed, we have been as a world going through difficult time, and we continue to pray...thus, as you taught us we continue to pray - thus, throughout the month of September 2021 we prayed as included in the following slides:

As it is usually the case concluding with these beautiful words from the Syriac rite of burial, which was provided to me by my brother Toum??:

Here, I come to the end of this journey on this 2nd October 2021 the 67th month since the eternal sleep of my Mum Bathqyomo Marine Khoury (May God repose her soul). As usual, would like to thank you for going through this entry - may God bless.

Until we meet again...

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 from the Blue Mountains of 2021. Also, Lamsa Holy Bible, St Takla and the Department of Syriac Studies.