Eid-ul-Fitr

Today is the celebration {Eid-ul-Fitr} marking the end of Ramadan for Muslims in Guinea. As I cut the last of the homemade cinnamon bread and warmed hot chocolate for the girls’ breakfast, I saw Mr. B getting ready for the day. He sat on an old, wooden bench outside his room putting on his best dress socks. The lighting is better out there.

I couldn’t help but think of Christmas and wonder if he has all the same feelings today that Christians have on December 25. The joy of celebrating the holidays; good food that has been prepared by loving hands; warm hearts rejoicing in good friendships.

I peeked out the door again. I could see Mr. B trying on hats. He finally settled on his tallest, nicest hat. He put it on. It’s rare to see Mr. B without a hat on. A hat not only keeps him warm and covers his balding head, but the colors and design signify his Muslim, Fulbe culture.

Noticing that he couldn’t afford new clothing for this special day, I wonder if his wife and children are wearing something new. Mr. B isn’t rich even though he gets paid quite well compared to his countrymen. Each person in his family lives on 50 cents per day. My thoughts shifted to Matthew 6:25-34.

Refilling the girls’ cocoa, I sat down to drink my coffee. I watched Mr. B walk down the driveway in a crisp, fine, white outfit. There was a beautiful scarf wrapped around his neck. No doubt he held his prayer beads in his hand. I sighed. Sadness crept in.

It really doesn’t matter what he wears, does it? If our hearts are not right with God, even after a month of fasting and seeking Him, then the celebration is for naught. If we look lovely and are good to our friends, family, and neighbors but we are missing heaven because we don’t have a right relationship with God, then the ornamentation is for naught too.

Please pray that God will use Christians to speak Truth and life to millions of Muslims today.

Matthew 6:25-34
“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? Or, What shall we drink? Or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”