Read this story from AFP:

On Thursday night, Nasima Begum, 30, woke up to howling winds and high waves rolling from the sea into her thatched hut near Patharghata.

Before her house collapsed, she managed to gather her children and fight her way through the water to a nearby tree. She held onto the tree and asked the children to cling to her body.

“We were there for almost an hour before the storm subsided and the water began to recede,” she said. “I don’t know how I survived. But Allah has helped us.”

SubhanAllah, imagine yourself in her place, clinging to a tree with her kids for an HOUR waiting for an end to the storm. It’s really hard for us to visualize these kinds of stories, since they end up happening so far away; far from the comfort of our lighted houses and heated seats.

But for just a minute, imagine you returned to your home from school or work and found your house destroyed. Literally demolished, to the point of nothing left of it but shards and broken pieces of wood. Or imagine you came home expecting to greet your father who is now dead.

Most of the time these disasters make us ask ourselves if we’re thankful for what we’ve been given from Allah (SWT). On top of that, I want you to also check your Eman.

Do you think if the Cyclone were to hit you in your home where you are right now, would you have the Eman and love and belief of Allah that our sister Nasima had? Or is your Eman so low, have you been comitting so many sins, missing so many prayers, having so many doubts in your religion, or especially been so unthankful for the mountains of blessings you have from Allah that you would curse your fate, hating and doubting Allah Who gave you all of those blessings in the first place?

As you reflect, know that help is needed. Millions of dollars are being raised, but the relief sent to the area is slow. We have to do our part, and to be more thankful for what we have, we HAVE to donate.

Please take action and donate for the victims of Cyclone Sidra here:

Help the 600,000 displaced and 4,000 killed in Bangladesh by Cyclone Sidra, DONATE NOW!