The Perfect Wedding Dress?

I wrote this before my wedding by 8 days :)

The Perfect Wedding Dress

“Did you get your wedding dress, yet?” my friends asked.
“You still haven’t gotten your dress, yet?” my well meaning relatives asked incredulously. 

Err....No....not yet....
Shock. Horror. “But what are you waiting for?”
“Well, the thing is...what I’ve come to realize is that, no matter what I get, there will always be something better...” My voice trails off.
My twin sister - aka Little Miss Aunty- looks at me knowingly and says, “Uh oh. Don’t start. Don’t tell them about your philosophy...”
But she’s too late.
I’ve already begun explaining my somewhat pessimistic philosophy....
“See, as a young girl, I have always dreamed of the white dress. I wanted something perfect. If I were to sum it up, basically the bestest, most MAGNIFICENT SPLENDID dress ever, that would magically transform me into a gorgeous diva, equal to, if not prettier than, any of the actresses from the ‘Woods (Hollywood/Bollywood). But now that I’ve grown-up, I understand that there’s a budget and limitations around me and I can’t exactly have the most beautiful dress ever. And even if I were to get that beautiful dress, something better would come along. And the thing is, once I do get my dress, it will be over for me. I’ll never have that chance again to look at all the choices and decide. And maybe that’s why I’m paralyzed right now. It just seems like I’m never going to actually ‘realize’ the dream....”
Mixed reactions of: “Ummm, are you okay?” “You’ve got a point.” 
And then I got: “ It’s getting late. You need to get the dress.” From Mr. Boss. Aka fiancé/husband...

And so...I got the dress.

There are still 8 days until I wear it. Is it perfect? Hmmm.... Is it pretty? I think so. Will I look beautiful on that day? I hope so. Is it going to last forever? No.

But in the greater scheme of things, I’ve had a somewhat greater epiphany.

I’ve realized that the dream was never of the white dress.

The dream was of jannah.

The dream was of a time when I would be completely and utterly beautiful and radiant...without any need of Keratin, creams, foundation or cucumbers or all that silly stuff we do/use to look our best. 

The dream was of a time when all my loved ones would be joyful. The dream was of a time when there would be complete serenity and bliss. No grudges. 

I was looking for paradise in that dress and in my wedding. And I think that in a way, many of us might fall into that trap, of misplacing our hopes and thoughts in a dress, a perfect spouse, the best job, the biggest house, etc.... The reality is that paradise does not exist in these things. Yes, we may find comfort, happiness and peace in these things, but they cannot and will not provide us with everlasting happiness and bliss. That, instead, is paradise. 

And paradise is the reward of submission to Allah. So if we hope to find a glimpse of paradise, we have to be searching for it in the worship of Allah. And so....I’m pretty content. I won’t have the perfect dress or wedding here on earth...but as believers, there’s always paradise to look forward to. And I hear the dresses there...are out of this world.

Love,

Little Auntie