E’s Ease

On a balmy September afternoon, it was time for another ‘first casework meeting’ with yet another new client. As mostly always, after hearing E’s backstory, I had to take a deep breath and drink some water. Each time I complete an intake or hear a client’s story – my heart fills with various emotions. Empathy can sometimes be a heavy load to carry. But after gathering my emotions and organizing them, I remember my Creator’s words: “Surely with hardship comes ease. Surely with [that] hardship comes [more] ease” (Quran 94:5-6). This client’s hardship was in front of herself and me, all we needed was to tap into and search for the ease Allah (SWT) already had somewhere waiting for her.

I noticed with each passing conversation with E that her confidence was lost somewhere in a long, dark tunnel. I often tried to help her revive it; by complimenting and acknowledging her sharp intelligence, her exceptional organizational skills, her soft kindness – but all I’d see in response was a whisper of a smile and a subtle, unsure shrug. This would frustrate me because her response made it evident that E herself didn’t recognize her brilliant individuality and capability.

Then one day, while we were discussing possibilities of pursuing her education, we stumbled upon the topic of business. She beamed and shared with me, “I always thought about starting my own business, to support my own people.” One thing led to another, and next thing we knew, E was enrolled in a business entrepreneurship program. From this point onwards – not being able to wait for our scheduled meeting timing – E would often excitedly pop into the office exclaiming, “Zahraa! Can I show you my presentation [and/or] assignment?!” Despite my packed schedule, I’d try my best to never turn her away from this request.

As time went by and fall brought its chill, I saw a light revive in E’s eyes which had once gone missing somewhere. It was during one of our meetings where it struck me how far we’d come with her progress. Her eyes welled up with tears that day and she softly said, “Last night while I was working on my business plan, my son glanced at my laptop screen and said he thought I was the smartest person in the world”. My heart jumped with joy and I quickly told her – he is right! 

Time passed, and it was eventually time for E to transition out of our Brampton shelter on to new beginnings. She determinedly worked with me to find herself a rental space, where she firmly announced she would first work to set up an office space. We often giggled as I noted that she was more excited to set up her office space than she was to set up her bedroom.

Soon after, E’s file was closed and she became yet another inspiring chapter and memory in my life. A year later, on another balmy afternoon – similar to the one where we had our first meeting – I received a call from E who proudly shared that she has begun her licensed immigration services business, and that she would like to support Sakeenah’s clients and give back. She chokingly shared with me, “You and everyone else at Sakeenah gifted me with my long lost confidence which I had lost to years of abuse. Thank you.” I could find no words to say at that moment, except “Alhamdulillah”.

Today, E walks in society with her head held high supporting women who are in a position where she once stood. Her resilience, bravery, determination and belief in herself elevated her in all the ways she deserved – all with a healed heart and soul. Her journey of transformation was not at all surprising to me when I reminded myself that indeed, her ease was with her hardship; all it needed was a little exploration to find it.