Honouring Ms. Nadia Azar who opened her house for refugees during the Israel-Hezbollah war in 2006

Did you know that today happens to be the “National Aunt and Uncle’s Day” (https://shorturl.at/2EeoS)? For many, aunts and uncles are like second mothers and fathers. For some, they may act like Godmothers or Godfathers, especially for those of a Christian background.

Who knows? Maybe you are an official aunt or uncle to beloved, little or older, ones yourself? Maybe you love your friends’ or neighbours’ kids like your nephews and nieces; with or without being an aunt or an uncle in the strict sense of the word? After all, there is a reason that, in some cultures like the Indian or Lebanese ones, we call such close people Aunty (or Auntie) or Uncly (or Uncley).

Bearing the above in mind, Bambi will celebrate the so-called “National Aunt and Uncle’s Day” by introducing you to her late, and true Aunty, Nadia (or “Amto” Nadia, in Lebanese-Arabic since she is her dad’s sister). Nadia happened to also have been her Godmother. Indeed, she played this significant role for MANY kids of the Azar family.

Nadia devoted her life to not only loving her family or origin and spouse, but also spreading love around her until her last breath. In all the transitions of life, in times of wars and peace, Nadia was present for others: before and at birth to baptism, through childhood to adulthood, from graduations to weddings, to funerals, and in moments of grief. She opened her house to senior relatives and offered them the most generous quality of life at the end of their own journey of life. She received friends in need and accompanied them in their sickness until their last breath. She loved all the children, whether in the family or not, like her own.

Yes, all the above describes Nadia who was solid like a cedar and flexible like water. Above all, Nadia’s heart was made of gold. If you do not believe Bambi yet in her description of her aunt, she will now share a moving story from the summer of 2006.

Indeed, on July 13, 2006, a sudden war broke between Israel and Hezbollah. On this precise day, Bambi was giving a talk at a psychiatric conference in Istanbul and her parents were supposed to come to join her and her spouse from Beirut. Sadly, they could not because their bombarded airport closed unexpectedly. Over several weeks, Bambi who was worried about the Middle East searched the internet for daily news. This is how, on July 24, 2006, she unexpectedly came across a BBC article by Mr. Martin Patience, which was entitled “Lebanese open up homes for refugees” (https://shorturl.at/zq0qS).

Of note, Mr. Patience’s entire article reported a heart-moving interview with 70-year-old Aunt Nadia who “hosted” in her rather small apartment in Beirut, “four mothers and their nine children who have fled the south of the country” (https://shorturl.at/zq0qS). As stated in this article, although Nadia and these families shared their citizenship, they were not of the same religion. That was not surprising to Bambi since Nadia couldn’t care less about religion or anything else. What simply mattered to her the most in life was humanity.

If the above story is not one related to love, humanity, and generosity, what is it then? May Ms. Nadia Azar’s memory be eternal. With her aunt’s uplifting story, Bambi hopes that peace and love will fill all the hearts. May safety, healing, and peace finally prevail not just in Southern Lebanon, but across the country and in the entire Middle East.