Sole Sister: Umm AbdulAziz

Stay at home mother / Muslimah

With my House Slippers...

Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Chamomile & Smiles
 

With these house slippers on I learned to appreciate many simple things of my life.
My husband is from small village. First days of our married life we spent in his parents’ house.  It was there when I learned that simple chore like washing dishes can be such a challenging and laborious work.

After finding out that there was no water tap in the house I asked where and how to wash dishes. I was kindly introduced to bucket of water with mug. I remember my astonishment then and how I tried to conceal it. And no, I didn’t come from developed country with the house of latest facilities; I’m from not very big city that is 2 hours drive away from my husband’s village. But I have never had an idea that there still existed places with no water tap.

First time I washed dishes I wasted almost 2 buckets of water. I say wasted because now I know that it can be washed with less than one bucket of water (btw our one bucket can contain 8 liters of water). Now let me share my first experience of dish washing. I started with washing cups. I took water from bucket with mug, poured into cup, dropped some liquid soap in it then washed it with sponge. 

I repeated the same procedure with tureens, plates and spoons. But with spoons it was harder. As I poured water into spoon, it got all splashed out. So I needed to hold it still without shaking and pour water slowly. When time came to rinsing, I thought I would be quick: just pour the water over the dishes and work is over. But to wash off all the soap wasn’t easy, on top of it the bucket with water got empty.  I went to gates where water containers stood to get it. After I was finished, I said alhamdulillah, but I was a little haste ;). I needed to pour away buckets of dirty water into cesspit.

Above I have described only one type of work, so that one can have an idea how much effort, hard work and patience is required from women of village. We go to my in-laws several times a year and spend there at least 1 week. In the beginning I would bring my books thinking I will have free time and fill them with reading. After returning home several times without opening any of my books I quit the idea of taking them there. There is no time for reading, and free time I get I would rather spend resting. 

After seeing the life in village I felt very blessed to be able to live in place with better conditions. But at the same time I think it is test from God. God blessed me with comfortable life; isn’t it my duty to thank Him, worship him earnestly and be steadfast in doing deeds for His sake now?