How a little Syrian orphan changed my whole life
Years ago, I judged this world and life as useless and gave it no meaning.
How should I?
It had taken away everything I loved from me and returned only pain, suffering, and tears.
But then, one day, things changed.
It was the first time I started looking after refugee children. Every Friday there was a visit from the brothers to the orphanage (that’s what we were called) to the children we individually looked after.
My little one was called Rezah, 9 years old, and had lost his whole family in the war and some criminals had brought him here to beg for them. Luckily, the police then rescued him and took to the orphanage.
Every Friday I came back with a new book, read it to him, and when he could tell me the story back, I gave him chocolate as a gift.
On this one Friday, I read another story about the value of brotherhood and sharing between people. After he told me the story back exactly, I grabbed my hand to my bag to get out chocolate.
Just then, he held my hand and said,
“Brother, this time I want to give you a present, please.”
I was very excited when he asked me to close my eyes. Thoughts went through my mind “what can a 9-year-old person give me ?”
When I opened my eyes I saw a little chocolate in his hand. I thought someone else gave it to him here.
But when I looked a bit closer, I noticed that the package is crumpled and something Arabic is on it.
This chocolate was certainly not from Turkey and Rezah had been here for 2 years, so I asked him with wonder where he got this chocolate from.
He then came closer to me and whispered these words softly in my ears:
“When the evil men came to our house, my father screamed that we should take our important things and run away from the back door. I only got this chocolate for my birthday, so it was more important than my toys. Whenever my father bought me this chocolate, he wanted a piece of me first. That was the last day I saw my family. I have not eaten it yet because my dad would not allow me to do that without giving him a piece. But I believe brother, he will not come anymore. And for a year now you are the only one coming to visit me. That’s why I want to share it with you. ‘’
Time stood still for me at the moment...
When I was in this thought, he had already fired the next shot that hit my heart:
‘’ If you took a piece, can I get the rest? ‘’...
..I’ve never hugged someone as tight as Rezah at that moment.
A little soul who has experienced the horror of life before his eyes took his chocolate from the war in Syria thousands of miles and not unpacked until that day, because he has been waiting for his father.
This incident has taught me the true meaning of life: sharing!
Whatever it is we can not take it to our grave.
Some have money, but no parents.
Some have parents but are poor.
Some have parents but do not know love.
Some even have nothing in this life...
And life does not have so many different colors for a meaningless purpose. This is our wealth and we are here to complete each other and not live by ourselves. Being alone has never healed a wound.
Since the day it became 102 children that I could give as a poor and sinful man a future.
Have my problems disappeared since that day? No, of course!
But whenever I think this life has no meaning, the smile of Rezah and many other children brings me back to the world.
Another winter is coming soon, and time to warm people in need with your smile. It’s a life that’s over in a tiny little moment, so short that no one will live forever and the shroud has no pockets.
We cannot take anything from this life and what we leave behind will have no value and will soon be forgotten. Only our hearts and good deeds will live forever. Therefore open your heart once and you will see the world in a completely different way.
The true meaning of life is hidden in the picture above.
Thanks for reading...
Author: Harun Reşit Aydin