“Mama, please? Can I do it?” she pleaded for what seemed like the hundredth time. I heard her but I ashamedly admit that I wasn’t really listening and she begrudgingly walked away, disappointed. Immediately, I was filled with remorse and regret; I chucked the disheveled kitchen towel on the counter, angry at the inanimate object which I had seemingly prioritized. I then proceeded to follow her to the living room where I sat with her, apologized for not listening and asked her to explain to me her thoughts and ideas.

Still sad that I hadn’t initially paid attention, she spoke thru muffled words, her feeling were hurt. I asked her to calm down and try telling me again. When she was finally able to construct sentences and convey her ideas, my mind was blown.

Sitting in front of me was a 5 year old whose little heart was filled with so much generosity, kindness and compassion. Her pleas? Not for anything material for herself but rather her pleas entailed selling cupcakes at our local mosque; the proceeds of which she wanted to donate.

I told her I needed to ask permission and she said, “well if that’s the house of God, how will you know if he gives you permission?” Sometimes I don’t know the answers, I just have to answer in the best way I know how, and this was one prominent time. I proceeded to explain the concepts of leadership and responsibility and once she understood that, she patiently awaited. When I got my request granted, she was exuberant and started enlisting the help of her older brother; he readily jumped to her side and together they are a force to be reckoned with.

They planned out the décor, the actual flavors of cakes, other items they thought were necessary and the night before, begged me to sleep in the same room. From behind closed doors I could hear giggles and chattering about the following days event but I didn’t have the heart to stop them. Their excitement at doing something positive to help our community was contagious.

During the course of the sale, many people stopped and exclaimed at the idea, uttering words of praise to us for our parenting. Little do they know that as much as we aspire to inspire our children, they are our real inspirations and the wind beneath our wings.

Evidently, when you do something solely for the pleasure of God, it turns out much more beautiful than you could ever anticipate.