Hello 2nd September 2024 - 102 (One Hundred and two) months on - Oh, Dearest Mum Bathqyomo Marine Khoury-Issa ???? ??????? ??? ?????? ???????

Hello everyone on this Monday the 2nd of September 2024 - as I stop to contemplate on the passing of the 102 (one hundred and two months) on your eternal sleep oh dearest Mum.

Oh, Dearest Mum Bathqyomo Marine Khoury-Issa

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Today, Monday the 2nd of September 2024, as we at the Syrian Orthodox Church commemorated one of our saints, Mor Malki (St. Malki) ??? ???? in Tur Abdin, thus, I commence today's journey with this prayer not only for me, but the family, friends and to those giving from their time and reading this:

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Lord, thank you for this new morning.

Thank you for the Gift of Life and YOUR continuous love for me and for my family.

I pray for protection and guidance, LORD.

May YOU bless this day, and all days ahead not only for me but for my family, friends, and for those who are reading this.

Amen.

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Here I come again to go through this journey, as I express my respect to my dear Mum on the passing of 102 months since that Wednesday 2nd March 2016's afternoon, when things changed and changed forever.

We miss you very dearly oh Mum.

May God repose your soul Oh Mum.

This month, saw a statement that spoke my mind in relation to missing you Oh Mum:

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My mind still talks to you Oh Mum.

My heart still looks for you Oh Mum.

But my soul knows you Mum are at peace.

I miss you every single day [every second of the day]

OH MUM.

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Indeed, life changed and changed forever, and as you taught us Mum, prayer is the way that I gain strength, and this month saw this prayer which is something that reminds me of what you taught us, that no matter how difficult things become, we are always cared for by God the Almighty, thus in all circumstances need to continue to thank God the Almighty, which I continue to do.

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God thank YOU for being my constant source of strength and peace.

The fact that YOU are with me always gives me joy and fills me with hope.

Today, please remind me that YOU are with me.

No matter what I face, help me to remember that YOU are near – and YOU are in control.?

Every battle I face has already been won.

Amen.

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Indeed, I have been coming to you every month since March 2016, and in every entry I talked about Mum, and her kindness, her beautiful smile, her help to others, and her utmost care to her family, community and society. This month, and though Mum, is always on my mind, but when I read the following statement, what Mum used to tell us and teach us resonated further in my mind. This statement, which I quote:

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If you have the chance to make people happy, just do it.?

Sometimes people are struggling silently.?

Maybe, your act of kindness can make their day.

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Certainly, this was one of Mum's mottos as she always cared for people, not only the near but whoever she met, and I felt as if she is trying to reinstate this statement to me, in case I forgot her teaching during those last 102 months. Mum, please, please note that you and your sayings are always on my mind and in my heart. Not seen physically but never forgotten.

Well, everyone would have some difficult times and days, might be struggling silently, so, we need to be kind to all, not only this that you taught us Mum, but also as you taught us we always pray, and today, I share this simple prayer that I saw it repeated this month:

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I asked the LORD to bless you as I prayed for you today.?

To guide you and protect you, as you go about your way.

His love is always with you,

His promises are true, and when we give our cares to Him, He will always see us through.

So, when the road you are travelling seems difficult at best, just remember I am here praying and God will do the rest.

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Yes, again and again, those precious afternoons or any other times that we spent with Mum, and other members of the family in the backyard as Mum used to read her Bible there after finishing her house chores waiting for us to arrive from work for dinner - we were discussing that chapter, whilst having coffee - what a beautiful atmosphere that was - miss that very dearly. From those gatherings either in the afternoons, or mornings depending on the weather, have left an important mark in my way of looking at things and how I would take refuge in the Holy Bible.

Indeed, as I was raised, I am convinced that I can do all things through Christ as we are taught by St. Paul in his Epistle to the Philippians - this is a very powerful verse and indeed, if this is kept in our minds we can face whatever comes our way with strength and power knowing that we can do all things through Christ:

Now, and this time, I am sharing a verse form yet another Epistle of St. Paul, and this time from that Epistle addressed to the Romans where St. Paul brings wishes, that I hope those resonate with you reading this article, that may Our God of hope fill you with all joy and peace so that by faith you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit - Amen.

As I mentioned in the previous articles, Oh Mum, through the last eight articles of #02JAN2024, #02FEB2024, #02MAR2024, #02APR2024, #02MAY2024, #02JUN2024 #02JUL2024, and #02AUG2024 I shared with you about my 2024 new initiative, and thank God, with God's grace the initiative continues and we are now in Chapter three of the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark after sharing the whole Holy Gospel according to St Matthew. I continue to use images from your garden 'Marine's garden'. This is today's image:

Further, and in the usual manner since the beginning of 2024, here is the image that was used a cover for the whole month of August 2024 and the whole month's verses and images can be reached through this link:

Certainly, and as you instilled in us to be always thankful to God the Almighty, I continue to thank God the Almighty for giving me the strength to continue throughout the month, with the daily verses featuring images from Marine's garden, praying that I continue to be supported and strengthened to continue with this initiative. God hears my prayers.

Moreover, simultaneously, I continue to share prayers on daily basis, and there were several occasions for our beloved church. These for the month of August 2024 can be reached on this link:

Here is the first image of these prayers collection - the image this month derives currently from the garden or from the archives of images taken of Marine's garden - this image was taken in August 2024 with the bee feeding on the new flowers of the succulents:

Again, and in the usual manner, I conclude this entry with this beautiful Syriac hymn that was shared earlier, received from Touma:

As I would usually say, again, and again and again and from a heart filled with gratitude I continue to be very thankful and extremely grateful to God the Almighty who honored me and blessed me to be the daughter of Bathqyomo Marine Khoury-Issa, something I am extremely very proud of ... Oh Mum... miss you very dearly... Oh Mum...

Now, thank you all for taking the time to go through this corner/article. May God bless.

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 or from the archives. Also, Lamsa Holy Bible, and the Department of Syriac Studies.