When I worked in an adult emergency homeless shelter, amidst the joy and laughter, the lights and decorations that adorn this time of year in the rosy glow of family gatherings and festive delights, the air was also filled with the sadness of loneliness and the heavy despair of homelessness.
For those without a place to call home, finding joy always came shrouded in the memories of joy lost, connections broken, family circles torn apart by poverty, addiction, violence and loss.
One year, we invited clients to share holiday messages to post on our website. I was always in awe of how excited those who participated were to have a chance to reach out to family and friends and let them know they were thinking of them and wishing them well.
One of those individuals was Zahir. His nickname was ‘Happy’ because he could always be counted on to lighten even the darkest moments with his laughter.
Zahir was diagnosed with a mental illness when his daughter was three. He was exiled from the family home and his community and began a long journey through homelessness.
He was in his 50s when we did a video story with Zahir one Christmas. We wanted to show the human side of homelessness. To help those who had never experienced it or judged the shelter and those experiencing homelessness, find compassion and understanding for those who used the shelter as their respite.
This video had an even more important purpose which would only be revealed several months later when I received a letter from a woman who had never given up searching for the father she’d lost when she was 3 years old.
As a child, she’d been forbidden from seeing or searching for, her father. As an adult, she made it her mission to find him. One of the things she did constantly, was search the websites of emergency shelters across Canada in the hopes of finding him. In her letter, she told me it was a miracle she stumbled across our video. She had started to give up hope of ever finding her father.
Zahir and his by-then 30-something daughter were reunited. At that reunion, Zahir got to meet his 2-year-old granddaughter and learned that he would be a grandfather again later that same year.
Zahir, despite his daughter’s requests he come live with them in another city, would not leave the shelter. It was the world he knew. And, though he never met his second grandchild, when Zahir passed away later that year, he was a very happy man. He had met the daughter he’d never lost hope of one day seeing again.
In the darkness of homelessness, Zahir held onto hope and loving-kindness.
May we all do the same.
This is the video that sparked the miracle of Zahir and his daughter’s reunion.
Dare Boldly 
Having just lost my father, I am trying to “wrap myself in kindness” and also as a friend keeps telling me, in bubble wrap. Taking each day as it comes and trying to avoid the negativity or anger.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wish instead of ‘like’ they had a HUG button Lisa. I am so very sorry for your loss and the pain and grief you are carrying. Sometimes, all you can do in these times of sorrow is wrap yourself in loving-kindness amidst the grief. ❤ Many hugs.
LikeLike
I feel your huge hug. Thanks, Louise.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We all need to be wrapped in kindness
LikeLiked by 1 person
So very, very true JoAnne. ❤
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing this beautiful story, Louise. ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
The shelter was full of beautiful and amazing stories Kelley.
Thankyou. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing this.
How did she recognize him from the video? Where did she see it? Social media.
Thank you for what you do ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was a tad complicated Sawsan. She had been scrolling through different websites of homeless shelters across the country for a long time — as had her husband who is the one who first saw our video. He went to his wife and said, I think I’ve found your father.
She watched and felt the same so contacted me with a lot of details of her birth and early life.
A frontline staff member and I approached Zahir and asked about his daughter — we knew he had one as he talked about his dream of seeing her again a lot — and the details all matched up.
I responded to his daughter to let her know Zahir wanted to meet her and we first arranged a phone call. They then came to visit and it was one of the most touching moments ever.
And thank you for asking — you’ve also reminded me of the story of Terry which I’ll have to share as well before Christmas!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing, Louise.
I look forward to Terry’s story.
LikeLike
Moved!
LikeLike
Even those with homes can experience loneliness and pain during holidays. Mental illness doesn’t stop at an expensive front door. I wonder why Zahir would not go live with his daughter. Seems like it would have been a perfect ending but life doesn’t have that does it….
LikeLike