Life Blessing

Working in social services is often a frustrated and seemingly thankless job, but there are times of great personal rewards. Today I had a client who was so thankful to Canada and all it had to offer. She explained to me how she prefers to work hard and to live off her own strength. She lost her job shortly after receiving housing and was forced to go on social assistance in order to survive.

She left me a message elated that she found a job. She came in today to bring in forms and her first two pay stubs so that I may re-calculate her rent. I asked her to start to fill out her forms while I run upstairs. She told me that she never went to school and that she doesn't know how to read. She told me how her father never sent her to school as a child. Its was then I realize the benefits that I have by being born in this country to the family that I have and how on a daily basis I unknowingly take the simplest things for granted.

I filled out the forms to her and she continued to express her thanks. I asked her to sign three sections on the form. She explained to me that before entering Canada she didn't even know how to sign her name. Can you imagine how difficult it would be to survive without the ability to read? She mentioned that it was not until after her arrival in Canada that someone taught her how to sign her name. (How amazing and sad at the same time)

She told me how afraid she is to speak in public due to her ignorance. It’s amazing how human beings are so adaptable despite her lack of education and her insecurities she spoke quiet intelligently. I told her that she has no reason to feel ashamed and suggested that if desire she could always go to school part-time.

In many countries around the world the biggest crime that people commit is being female. By being born of that sex often means that you will be deprived of education.

Today is a day that reminds me of my blessings and reminds me why I do what I do.

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