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| Sitting with one of my Afghan friends, a lovely mother and grandmother |
Recently my husband I experienced a day that was very special on so many levels. Ron and I began the morning with first celebrating our amazing grandson Carsten’s 9th birthday. Afterwards we headed to the Columbia River with our golden retriever Shira, something we usually do every two to four days. But this time we were met with a big surprise.
I love the mystery and synchronicity and grace that brought us together on this Sunday afternoon with some of our Afghan friends who we’ve been missing and hadn’t seen in some time. But here they were having a large gathering at the park that included several families and multiple generations. We were so happy to see each other! And even though they'd left their husbands at home and it was just women and children, they love Ron and he was also happily welcomed into this wonderful gathering.
And then the rain rolled in. Yes, there was a covered area that our friends and their friends could all move to and share with the even larger gathering of other people who were celebrating Easter. That said, we also understood how they were hoping to have their own space to barbecue and enjoy this special time together.
So my husband and I jumped in our car, drove the 15 minutes to our home and dropped Shira off, and then turned around with Ron’s truck loaded with 2 canopies and rugs and chairs. And we all just had the most wonderful time together with our friends and making new friends!
Ron and I first met out Afghan and Syrian friends over 3 years ago when we were volunteering to help settle our new refugee neighbors. We loved the experience and the relationships we cultivated with several families. The bond that Ron and I feel with these dear friends is simply always there. It is hard to explain what a gift it is to share these beautiful heartfelt friendships.
And seeing each other is also both joyful and bittersweet. I love our Afghan and Syrian friends. And I know that they also face risks because of their refugee status — and this is true even though they are taking every legal step required of them in their immigration process. Never have the threats to immigrants been greater than with the current administration’s profoundly cruel, unjust, immoral, inhumane, and criminal policies towards immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
My heart has already been breaking with all of the daily trauma, injustice, heartlessness, cruelty, and dehumanization being perpetrated on so many by the current administration — something which stretches back in time through other administrations and is now being escalated to a horrifying extent. And now with being acutely aware that there are people who I know and love and care about so deeply who are among those at risk just infuriates me even more!
My heart aches with the horror of it all. Our numbers must grow of those of us who are standing up in protection of everyone who is being targeted. We must somehow stop this madness!
Bless us all, no exceptions,
— Molly
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