Between October and October
I wrote this today, on my birthday, as I reflected on the past year. I originally wrote it in Arabic but have translated it here to share. Between October and October I left a home I thought I would never leave except for the grave. I long for a sea I never loved, yet it never left my sight. I lived displaced and learned the value of small blessings, including a drop of water. I love Gaza more than I ever imagined. I migrated once and will migrate again. I moved from house to house in a new land. I met beautiful faces and others ugly, those I didn’t know in myself and others. I lost people and friends. I swallowed patience only to discover that I am better off than many. I learned patience, detachment, and not to worry about tomorrow. I realized that God’s grace is far greater than we can imagine. I learned that family is your first line of defence, and sisters are the greatest blessing. True joy is in letting go of trivial things. No matter what happens, do no...