Stop telling God how big your storm is. Instead tell your storm how big your GOD is.

Following is the real story which gives a true lesson of faith and struggle in life.

In Phoenix, Arizona, a 26-year-old mother stared down at her 6 year old son, who was dying of terminal leukemia. Although her heart was filled with sadness, she also had a strong feeling of determination. Like any parent, she wanted her son to grow up and fulfill all his dreams. Now that was no longer possible..

The leukemia would see to that. But she still wanted her son's dreams to come true. She took her son's hand and asked, "Billy, did you ever think about what you wanted to be once you grew up? Did you ever dream and wish what you would do with your life?"

Mommy, "I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up." Mom smiled back and said, "Let's see if we can make your wish come true."

Later that day she went to her local fire department in Phoenix, Arizona, where she met Fireman Bob, who had a heart as big as Phoenix.

She explained her son's final wish and asked if it might be possible to give her six-year-old son a ride around the block on a fire engine.

Fireman Bob said, "Look, we can do better than that. If you'll have your son ready at seven o'clock Wednesday morning, we'll make him an honorary fireman for the whole day. He can come down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on all the fire calls, the whole nine yards! And if you'll give us his measurement, we'll get a real fire uniform for him, with a real fire hat-not a toy one-with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department on it, a yellow slicker like we wear and rubber boots. They're all manufactured right here in Phoenix, so we can get them fast."

Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy, dressed him in his fire uniform and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and ladder truck. Billy got to sit on the back of the truck and help steer it back to the fire station.

He was in heaven. There were three fire calls in Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all three calls. He rode in the different fire engines, the paramedic's van, and even the fire chief's car.

He was also videotaped for the local news program. Having his dream come true, with all the love and attention that was lavished upon him, so deeply touched Billy that he lived three months longer than any doctor thought possible.

One night all of his vital signs began to drop dramatically and the head nurse, who believed in the hospice concept that no one should die alone, began to call the family members to the hospital. Then she remembered the day Billy had spent as a fireman, so she called the Fire Chief and asked if it would be possible to send a fireman in uniform to the hospital to be with Billy as he made his transition. The chief replied, "We can do better than that. We'll be there in five minutes. Will you please do me a favor?

When you hear the sirens screaming and see the lights flashing, will you announce over the PA system that there is not a fire? It's just the fire department coming to see one of its finest members one more time. And will you open the window to his room?

About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived at the hospital and extended its ladder up to Billy's third floor open window 16 firefighters climbed up the ladder into Billy's room. With his mother's permission, they hugged him and held him and told him how much they loved him. With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the fire chief and said, "Chief, am I really a fireman now?" "Billy, you are, and the Head Chief, Jesus, is holding your hand," the chief said.

With those words, Billy smiled and said, "I know, He's been holding my hand all day, and the angels have been singing.." He closed his eyes one last time.

God is Great

My Reflection:

It is fact that problems and issues are necessary parts of life and are equally important for the personal as well as professional development of an individual. The biggest fear in this world is the fear of uncertainty. In fact the center of life itself is "if" - a symbol of uncertainty, how one can expect to be certain throughout life. I firmly believe that problems in life are our friends because while coping up with them, we learn how to deal with change and thus we become stronger to deal with uncertainties.

Also, each problem in life brings opportunities with it, however, exploring them or wasting them depend on us. There are many examples around us where people have changed their problems into blessings. However, for this, two elements are necessary. one is power of faith that is believing in oneself as well as the supreme power - God, where later has complete control on our lives. Second is the power of self effort. His Highness the Aga Khan III said, "struggle is the meaning of life. defeat of victory is in the hands on God. but struggle itself is one's duty and should be his joy". It is true that nobody gets anything except what s/he tries to (Al-Quran). Some times the effort doesn't result in actual accomplishment of task but the learning, personal development, skills, self satisfaction and happiness out of that effort are real and long lasting achievements. My message to myself as well as to all readers is;

"Equip yourself with power of faith and effort and then take a step forward to deal with your problem. You will find yourself closer to your destination and that feeling itself is an achievement"