A few years ago, Bella recalls when she had lots of trouble with her sons. One had dropped out of high school and spent the days sleeping and the nights drinking and looking for trouble in the streets. The other one had got himself in major trouble and served a two year sentence in jail.
Bella did not know what to do. She had left Columbia over fifteen years ago to seek a better future for her family in the US. She had worked very hard in multiple jobs. One day, her son Jorge came home, and she could see in his face that something had happened.
I Searched His Face
“When Jorge came home that morning”, Bella remembers, “he looked different. He looked tired as always. He smelled like alcohol and cigarettes. But something was odd. I searched in his face for clues.”
But Jorge did not look at his mother. He had scrambled eggs, a shower and then went to his room. Bella followed him. She never bothered him but this morning was different. She knocked on his door and entered. Jorge sat on his bed, thinking.
“I asked my son if everything was ok and he said ‘yeah, mom’. But he kept having this strange look on his face. I sat next to him and touched his back”, Bella remembers. Then Jorge said that he has to give up drinking. It is not good.
“I was happy to hear that. After all that was what I had prayed for all along. I just told him that it is a good idea and left his room. I thought that was all that had troubled him. However, this confession was only the beginning of a great change in my son,” she said.
A New Friend
Starting from that morning, Jorge did not drink anymore. He spent most of his time in his room. Sometimes he went out with a friend who picked him up from home.
“His friend was very polite,” Bella remembers. “He always wore bright white cloth and a small skullcap. And when he smiled, I felt like a light was shining from him.”
One day, Bella invited Jorge’s new friend inside. She had prepared a simple dinner. Jorge and his friend sat down. And then they started talking about God and Jesus and the holy Mary.
“I don’t remember everything they said. I was just so surprised because my son had never talked about God before. I always pray silently in my room, to the holy Mary and God and to Jesus. But I have never made it a big issue in our family.”
I Was Completely Overwhelmed
Bella was still relaxed when her son and his friend talked about God and Jesus. But then Jorge revealed to his mother that he had become a Muslim. Bella was shocked.
“Weren’t Muslims those terrorists? She asked. “I was completely overwhelmed with the situation. I just took the plates, cleaned up the table and told them to leave.
I did not know what to do. I went to my room and I sat down in front of my little shrine. I prayed. It was just so strange. And it felt like for the first time I talked directly to God and asked Him for help. Usually I prayed to the Holy Mary but this time was different.”
Islam Changed My Son
Bella continues: “I sat there in my room for a long time, I don’t remember how many hours, asking God to help me, to help my sons, to help my family.
Jorge did not return for many days. I was worried about him. Did I push him to go back to his old lifestyle? These days were very difficult for me. But I was also able to reflect.
Jorge changed. He had stopped drinking. He did not go out at night. He did not get into fights anymore. Was this all because he became Muslim?
I know many religious people in my old village who still did bad things, drink and then go to church. But this religion called Islam just changed my son to become a good person. I could not wait for him to return home. During these days, I prayed more than usual. I asked God to bring Jorge home.”
God Returned Us to His Straight Path
After more than two weeks, Jorge returned. His face was shining and he hugged me like he never hugged me before. I was extremely happy. Full with joy and hope.
Jorge took time to sit down with me. We had long talks and discussions. He told me about the Oneness of God and that Jesus was God’s Prophet and not His son. I could accept that.
He told me about the five daily prayers and other important things in Islam. I took it all in.
I could accept Jorge to be Muslim now. But when he asked me whether I want to accept Islam, I told him that I needed more time.
After around half a year, I accepted Islam at the hands of my son. It was a beautiful moment. Alhamdulilah.
When my other son was released from prison, it did not take long and he also accepted Islam. And he has stayed out of trouble ever since.
Through Islam, God gave me back my two wonderful sons. He saved them from the violence and destruction in the streets.
God returned us all to His Straight Path.