Once, there was a young Muslim girl named Farah. She had always been self-conscious about her nose and felt like it was a barrier to finding love, sometimes she was made fun of because it was larger than average. She drew pictures and painted to help with her self esteem. She was very talented.
Her parents insisted she focus on her studies She was also experiencing anxiety because there was so much talk about the Muslim faith and community after 911, so much violence towards them she was afraid to tell anyone.
She was sad because dating was really not an option because she felt if she met a nice man her parents would disapprove.
She had a growing passion for art and it helped her relax. She was approached by several places to show her art and her parents would not allow it. Education was to be her main focus.
A couple years had passed by and she was almost finished with college when her parents came to her and advised her that her father arranged for her to marry someone she already knew, Farah was very torn. She didn’t want to disappoint her family, but she also didn’t want to settle for a life she didn’t truly desire.
Despite her reservations, Farah trusted her father’s judgment and went ahead with the marriage. To her surprise, it ended up being a wonderful thing in her life. Her husband, Ahmed, turned out to be incredibly understanding and supportive, and he loved her for who she was, flaws and all.
They did have many things in common. The love of travel and helping in the community. He was a surgeon and she was studying to be a pediatrician.
He complimented her regularly and shown her much respect. He never spoke harsh to her.
With Ahmed by her side, Farah gained confidence in herself and her abilities. She pursued her passion for art and even started a social media account to showcase her work. Through her art and her words, Farah became a role model for other young Muslim girls who were struggling with self-esteem issues. She was a brilliant pediatrician and also a very talented artist.
Looking back, Farah was grateful for her father’s decision to arrange her marriage. It brought her closer to the person she was truly meant to be and allowed her to find true happiness and fulfillment inher life.
Joyful-Echoes 