Happy Days to You

Samir KhalilEid is coming; open your hearts to welcome it, embrace it with love, and our inner voice asks: Eid, in what state do you return, oh Eid? With what has passed, or with something renewed in you? As when we were children, we awaited Eid because it was a moment of joy, hope, wishes, reconciliation, and forgiveness. We forgot our disputes and sorrows, washed our souls from hatred, envy, and harm, and opened our hearts as we open our homes to receive Eid guests.In recent years, extending to today, Eid has taken on a new flavor—a sweet one—because it came to us after harsh years in which we tasted bitterness from strife, sectarianism, and terrorism in all its forms. Eid came after those years to plant smiles, illuminate darkness, touch hearts with its magical wand, cleanse them of their impurities, and grant them tranquility.Eid comes these days while our cities wear a new look, dressed in colors of parks and places of entertainment and relaxation, whether outdoors or inside malls and complexes. We welcome Eid with hearts more assured of our cities, homes, and children, for whom Eid will be, as always, a symbol of their joy, delight, giggles, and noise. They will jump on green meadows like colorful butterflies, scenting the air like fragrant flowers—they are the Eid, and Eid is them.As with every Eid, we wish that the days of Eid pass with ease, safety, and comfort; that the places we visit during Eid are safe, clean, and orderly so our families can spend Eid days with peace, happiness, and security; and that visitors feel these places are their safe homes, caring for them as they care for their own homes because they belong to everyone, not just anyone.Eid is at the door, so what about the markets? We hope they will be as they were in recent past Eids—prices stable, and even some goods’ prices have dropped with Eid’s arrival, a step that pleased people and encouraged them to shop to welcome the happy Eid.Eid is at the door, so let all good efforts be mobilized—our heroic security forces, our hospitals, doctors, all their assistants, and the dedicated workers at the Ministry of Health; the brave civil defense men; and people as well. We all see Eid as a test we hope to pass successfully together.Finally, happy days to you all, and may you be well every year.