The one where thanks are given

I love thanksgiving. It is perhaps one of the only holidays in this country that isn't owned by commercialism. There are no turkey conglomerates that bombard you with repeated commercials to buy buy buy! And theres no such thing as legions of sweet potato farmers bombarding your mailbox with "kind reminders." Instead all we see are reminders to drive safe and to get to the airport early. Thats it. Its simple and beautiful. A time to enjoy the company of family and friends. To catch up with those with whom you've lost touch and to spend more time with those who you truly love.

I suppose these days my family is spread out a little bit. All of the cousins are still in the St. Louis area so we rarely get to spend extended quality time with them. More importantly however, the three kids in the Moin/Zahiruddin household are dispersed across the tristate area. Khatija is still out in the boondocks of Erie, PA where she is living (and really enjoying) the hick life. Baji is living it up in the only city that matters, not quite so far from home but far enough that we don't see her that often. Lastly we have me, living at home but barely there because of the self-imposed exile that medical school seems to put on everybody. Realistically, we all aren't far from home but there's rarely a stretch when all of us are home together for any decent amount of time. This is why thanksgiving is so wonderful, its basically a mandate by the nation to go home and spend time with your better sides.

Yesterday as we sat down to dinner I had a chance to recollect how far this family has come in two years. Thanksgiving 2008 was somewhat of a transition period and there were some serious growing pains to be had. Baba was still recovering from his heart surgery but his progress was going really well so we were more and more thankful as the year went on. Baji was in the middle of her interview process for residency and was driving us crazy with her ramblings of nervousness. Khatija was getting ready for her USMLEs and according to her the world was going to end soon. Ammi was doing well at work and maintaining her status as the rock that holds this family together. Finally, I was hating my job as a car salesman and looking forward to starting medical school in 2009.

Two years have passed and somehow life has both gotten better and more hectic. Baba has fully recovered and is spending his days in well deserved retirement. Ammi continues to be the rock of this family and is most definitely the reason for any amount of success present in our family. Baji is doing splendid in her residency program and brags about it to anyone who will listen. Khatija is exactly where Baji was two years ago, interviewing and driving the rest of us insane with her worries and fears (mostly unfounded ones at that). I on the otherhand have switched places with Khatija and am starting the process of USMLE studying.

On the surface it doesn't seem like much has changed but in between the details there is some intense growth occurring in our family. In two more years Khatija will be living it up in the middle of her ER residency, Baji will be thriving in fellowship, and I will be driving the family crazy with my ramblings of interviews. Ammi will still be the rock that holds this family together while Baba grumbles and mumbles in the background because he still doesn't know how to express happiness.

This look at the past, present, and future of my family highlights the one constant that has held us together for years and years: Mrs. Asma Moin. My mother is the single greatest treasure that this family has and without her the accomplishments of her children would mean nothing. Day after day she gets up and does the work of 50 people to ensure that this family runs smoothly and I don't think even she realizes how important she is. At a time in the year where we are supposed to give thanks to all that is good in our lives, I choose to give thanks to the one responsible for all the good in the lives of my sisters and I.

Thank you Ammi, you are the single most beautiful, kindest, and thoughtful person that Allah has ever created. Without you Baji, Khatija, and I would be nothing and we know it.

There is a very wonderful story from in Islam in which a man goes to the Prophet (PBUH) and complains about the pains that his mother is causing him. The Prophet (PBUH) calmly explained to the man that if he were to add up all the moments of pain and grief that he has experienced in his life they would still not add up to equal even one second of the pain that his mother felt during labor.

With that I end this post and remind all of you to hug and kiss your mothers because truly without them, there would be nothing to ever be thankful for.