Before we began our three-day Eid al-Fitr holiday, marking the end of Ramadan, I came across an article in a Saudi newspaper with a checklist of what makes a successful Ramadan.
First on the list: Recognizing that one can change for the better and acquiring patience and strong will. This month my deficiencies have shone as if spotlights were directed at them.
The article continues: Successful fasting means not only abstaining from food, drink, and lust from dawn to dusk, but also being honest, patient, and forgiving. I lose my temper with my children and argue with my sisters regularly. But, because I’m fasting and conscious of Ramadan’s requirements, I have become aware of that single moment, as quick as a finger-snap, when a person gives themselves the green light to lose their temper.
Be more charitable, says the article.
