This morning we prayed Fajr salah together and after we had all finished Mum, began the usual conversation she loved to have when she had us all together.

“Can you believe that we’re at the 21^st fast already? We stress so much about the blessed month, complaining about the changes we put up with, yet we forget the blessings that come with the auspicious month. How ungrateful we are!”, she said sounding remorseful and sad.

Mum was right, we spent so much time with preparing the many food items and plans we make for iftar parties and then table settings and menus for Eid that we miss out on the benefits that the month holds for us. The many lessons we can learn in the holy month of Ramadan are so important and have so much value.

During Ramadan, we forgot to the many sacrifices our mothers make for us. Yes, they do so all the time, but in Ramadan, they shoulder so much more to ensure that we are eating the best meals, that we wake up on time, that the house is home and still doing all the millions of other things that mothers do to ensure that her family is catered for. I embrace my mother then and give her kiss on her forehead as I realise that we never thank her enough. Seeing the smile that brought made my day.

Dad gave me an appreciative smile and winking, asked Papa if he had plans to try to escape again soon. We all burst into laughter as Nana turns red in the face knowing that his botched escape is going to be remembered for eternity. And then Daadi, brought up the story about the broom which only made us all laugh more, much to Nana’s annoyance. He had sure learnt his lesson!

“You know Dad, Daadi knew all about the broom and here I was playing CIA agent with Nana!”, I teased Nana who stuck his tongue out at me.

“You know Sophia, the lockdown is difficult for everyone, more so for the older folk. They have been through dark days before, during Apartheid. They had similar experiences, but it was much worse.

“Now you know why I wanted to escape! I was worried that the police would find me, and I would have to spend time in solitary confinement.”, said Nana with a twinkle in his eye.

We were all weathering the lockdown well, although it brought with it many challenges, we knew that life was full of them. We had much to be thankful for too as we got to spend time at home with family creating memories and after a long time we got to pray together more and enjoy the closeness of family too.

The virus was here to stay for a while and it posed a danger to us all, in particular to the older people, but we also had to have much hope that we would all come out of this predicament wiser, stronger and grateful.

“Do not lose heart nor fall into despair! You shall triumph if you are believers.” (Quran, 3:139)