Honoring Shirin

The death of Shirin came extremely sudden for all of us. She was just a kid; a four-year old kid to be specific. And the way she had to go was by far the least desired. But I personally believe that God has a plan for all of us and the He knows best. Maybe the death of beautiful Shirin could create a change for us, a good change perhaps. But this does not mean that I want her to go; I just believe that things are predetermined for us all.

Shirin has been in my life the last two years or so. And though, I found it rather hard to be friends with her at first, she finally accepted me; literally took quite a while :P And from the moment she considered me as her friend, I have enjoyed every bit of it. The times when she would drag me to play with her in her bedroom and tell me stories that were beyond any adult's imagination. I think we all would feel that way to any kid; it's just the fact that their souls are so pure, they just have no bad intentions for anyone. Shirin also loved to role-play; and she loved being a mommy cheetah; always wanting us to call her by that name, only then would she acknowledge us. And just two days before the accident, I met her at her school and she was drinking her cup of milk, asking me to play with her in the sand pit but unfortunately, I had to do some stuff so I couldn't and I remember how she said, "Please..."; Sigh; literally the most adorable thing to be said by a kid. Just a week or so before that, a group of youths went for camping together; and Shirin tagged along. During that camp, we talked about how we could all come back and serve more in our communities but I remember one thing that was being said, discussed and agreed upon was the fact that, over that one weekend, Shirin grew the most as an individual, spiritually of course. She stopped being clingy over that weekend. And all of us were so impressed by her. And though Shirin may be gone now, I believe that she will be watching over us and will remain in all our hearts forever.

Shirin's funeral went by beautifully. And though she may just be four, she had almost 200 people present at her burial. Beautiful prayers said and chanted, pretty flowers put on her grave; I'd have to say, no better way to celebrate her life :)



Here is a writing that I want to share:-

“That beloved child addresseth thee from the hidden world: 'O thou kind Mother, thank divine Providence that I have been freed from a small and gloomy cage and, like the birds of the meadows, have soared to the divine world -- a world which is spacious, illumined, and ever gay and jubilant. Therefore, lament not, O Mother, and be not grieved; I am not of the lost, nor have I been obliterated and destroyed. I have shaken off the mortal form and have raised my banner in this spiritual world. Following this separation is everlasting companionship. Thou shalt find me in the heaven of the Lord, immersed in an ocean of light.”

(Abdu'l-Baha : Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 20