Chapter 21: Faith, Hope and Love
While I have not gone through what Rafee went through, I still feel so much for him. He is a friend to me, and we shared so much in our lives. When he began toshare his story with me, I walked with him everysingle step of his harrowing journey. It hurt me as much as it hurt him. As I retraced his steps with him,I felt all his pain, anguish, weeping, sadness and sheer depression. I was seeing a life being destroyedright in front of my eyes.
When I was in Jeddah last year in 2004, a family friend shared with my mom about how her daughter wasfondled under the table by the Islamic preacher, as she would recite the Quran. Another friend shared his story with me as his driver abused him within the fourwalls of his home (all the more reason to allow womento drive for themselves so kids don’t have to dependon drivers!) Another friend shared how she was abused when she was seven in Jeddah. I just could not believe my ears as I heard their stories. There were similar patterns to Rafee’s story. Their incidents happened over-time, and within the four walls of their house. They were threatened too. They stayed quiet because itwas a shameful thing to talk about. It became too latewhen their past caught up with them, they were forced to share their stories with someone.
Today, I feel for the kids who are orphans or go through a difficult time in their lives with certain handicaps. I have a special place in my heart for kids who suffer from hearing loss. Although I am an architect now, I know for sure when the right time comes, I will be dedicating my time to such kind of kids. I know I will end up working in an orphanage, or a center for abused children. Life to me is not about money, possessions or wealth. It is about serving others. I know I will receive a lot of flak and nastycomments for this, but it’s my life, and I will dowith it what I feel has been placed on my heart byGod.
Rafee’s story is a personal story for me and I don’twant kids like him to go through such times of abuse. I know I may not be able to save all the kids out there, but I know I can make a difference to the kidsI come in contact with. I made a difference in Rafee’s life, and I know I can make a difference in otherpeople’s lives.
All Rafee needed in his life were Faith, Hope and Loveto heal, and if he can heal, so can the others.
1 comment:
No, he did not leave his religion...he was disillusioned by it....but then as he grew up, he came to realize that God answers in His own time, and while he still struggles with the idea that God is distant and not close to him, he believes one day God will reveal to him why he had to sexually abused at the age of 10. Plus, he believes that man he saw in his vision was a divine appointment from God....so his faith is still there in God....very much so...
(He also knows if he leaves his religion he will termed an apostate and wil be beheaded if he is caught!)
Mansur
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