jhawk
Veteran
- Location
- New Brunswick, Canada
As some of you know, I work with the local refugee coalition here in Sackville. Recently, we welcomed a Syrian family here to our town. A wife, husband and their three year old boy. I wasn't able to meet them, until today.
I was coming up the road as they were loading their car with groceries. I went over and introduced myself, and told the husband that I work with the coalition here, and welcomed him. He pointed to himself and said, "Nezar". I pointed to myself and said, "Jack.".
He then said "Shukran", which means "Thank you." in Arabic. I nearly cried. We shook hands, and I said, "As-salaamu alaikum.", (Peace be upon you), he replied, "Wa alaikum salaam". (And upon you). I wished him well, and not wanting to keep them, let them be on their way.
Something that dawned on me as I was walking home was the man's eyes. They had seen things that nobody should have to bear witness to. And his little three-year old boy, who six months ago was in a refugee camp with an uncertain future. Now, he will grow up here and go to school here and be successful in peace and security.
It was a very humbling moment, and I thought I'd share it with you all, as I sit here and reflect on just how lucky I am to live in a place like this. And that they too may find the peace and security and freedom that I have enjoyed all of my life. In'sh'Allah, one day they can return home to a safer, better Syria than when they left it.
I was coming up the road as they were loading their car with groceries. I went over and introduced myself, and told the husband that I work with the coalition here, and welcomed him. He pointed to himself and said, "Nezar". I pointed to myself and said, "Jack.".
He then said "Shukran", which means "Thank you." in Arabic. I nearly cried. We shook hands, and I said, "As-salaamu alaikum.", (Peace be upon you), he replied, "Wa alaikum salaam". (And upon you). I wished him well, and not wanting to keep them, let them be on their way.
Something that dawned on me as I was walking home was the man's eyes. They had seen things that nobody should have to bear witness to. And his little three-year old boy, who six months ago was in a refugee camp with an uncertain future. Now, he will grow up here and go to school here and be successful in peace and security.
It was a very humbling moment, and I thought I'd share it with you all, as I sit here and reflect on just how lucky I am to live in a place like this. And that they too may find the peace and security and freedom that I have enjoyed all of my life. In'sh'Allah, one day they can return home to a safer, better Syria than when they left it.