Happy Eid

Ramadan ends tonight, and I have been thinking about my 4 amazing Muslim students who have taught me to much about their lives and their faith this year and in the past. I love these four women so much. I have listened to them through divorce, family struggles, feelings of stress and inferiority, taking major exams while fasting, taking in nieces and nephews while an older sister is in prison, celebrating victories, making it to the start of student teaching, finishing a course on a wing and prayer, moving across the country. They have normal trials and beautiful successes, and I love that they share their faith and feelings with me so openly.

My favorite time of year with them is Ramadan when they fast from sun up to sun down for 30 days. I still do not fully understand what they are celebrating or praying for. I sometimes don't have the words to ask. I don't want to be so brazen as to imply that everything they do has a Christian translation, but I am excited to better understand why they celebrate this holiday and how if feeds them culturally, emotionally, and spiritually. Today I was talking to a Muslim student who was feeling like a failure in life. She described her feelings. I have the same feelings. We talked about the force in the world that makes people feel that way even when it is not true. And then talked about Zakat -- the Muslim concept of Charity and giving -- and how sometimes we give and give because we want to and it feels right and when the giving is over we are not where we wanted to be professionally or personally because of the time we spent giving Zakat to others. We forget the lives we blessed and just blame ourselves for not running long enough or fast enough or not being skinny enough or pretty enough. But in the moment when we gave up those things, we had a beautiful reason to do it. Zakat. I loved my talk with her tonight. I am grateful that she shared her feelings and listened to mine.

When I was 14, I was jealous that my friend got to read the Book of Mormon -- Thus the beginning of the rest of my life. I have always been drawn to beautiful spiritual truths. I love worship and sacrifice. I'm a little jealous of my Muslim friends and the beauty of Ramadan. I have a personal goal to study this tradition and then celebrate with them next year. I think that will be really special. My heart is full tonight for the universal truths that God has given us. I am most grateful that me and these great women are all drawn to it and to each other.

Happy Eid, Ladies, and dig in!