NF - Experience 4

New Families
Stories from members of New Families

"You have removed hatred from my heart"
B. H. - BOSNIA

She is a Muslim woman. Her husband was killed and she had been the victim of violence.

When fighting encircled my native city, I panicked. My first thought was for my mother. Later on I was able to speak to her. Afterwards no other communication was possible and the only thing I could do each day was to read the list of all those who had been killed. I was paralysed with fear and anguish.

I felt at one point that I had to do something. Many people were asking for help. We welcomed a Muslim lady and her two children into our home. Her husband had been killed and she was suffering the trauma of the violence endured.

She stayed with us for many days without speaking a word. It was a silence we knew we had to respect. We surrounded her with the warmth of our family and loved her in little things, such as offering her the food prescribed by her religion. Our children gave up their rooms for her children to sleep in and shared their toys with them.

Then one day she smiled at us. She confided to us that she had found her freedom again. She said: "You have removed hatred from my heart and given me peace again. I can no longer judge anyone."

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