15/08/2025
In school, she has always been the one who buys a friend a meal whenever she sees that someone has no money and goes hungry during recess. She once bought her non-Muslim friend a brand new dress just so she wouldn’t feel out of place during Raya, simply because she had just gotten to know a Muslim boy.
She loves making others feel happy. She goes above and beyond for a friend, even when it’s not always reciprocated fairly. Even when she receives mean comments from friends, she chooses to respond with kindness.
She stood by one friend through the toughest times with whatever little she had. Even after I scolded her for giving too much of herself, she would still check in, still show up, still make sure everything was okay.
She will quietly send a text message just to check if my husband has eaten or if he’s feeling okay. Even though he’s not her biological father. Every so often, she'll ask me, ‘Mommy… is Abah okay?’. In that moment, I’m reminded of the incredible kindness that lives in her heart. A love that expects nothing in return, yet gives everything.
So… please ignore the diploma in her hand. I am so proud to have raised a loving, thoughtful, and kind young lady who puts her heart on the line to help others.
What I didn’t realise all this time was that she had been watching me, every gesture, every word, every act of love I showed to my friends and family. And now, she mirrors it.
Children are like sponges. They absorb not just what we say, but who we are.
I pray that God continues to protect her tender heart, bless her with abundance, and guide her to grow into someone who keeps giving back to the community without ever losing the light in her soul. ❤️