Nabil

Nabil's family has lived in the Druze villiage of Majdal Shams on the slopes of Mount Hermon for hundreds of years. The Druze are a small and closed sect that live in remote communities in Lebanon, Israel and Syria, so when Nabil was accepted to study at a university abroad he was to be the first in his family ever to venture out into the world. But just then his father passed away, and even though Nabil wasn't the oldest brother, he put aside his plans and took his father's place as sole provider for his mother and his younger brothers. He had 3 younger brothers and 8 sisters. At the time of his father's death he was 20 years old.

Nabil started working in construction and farming the family's land. Providing doesn't mean just putting bread on the table. The head of a household must arrange the weddings for unmarried sisters and see to it that younger brothers each have a home and profession in order to establish families of their own. So while the younger members of the family grew up and some were able to study abroad, Nabil stayed at home and filled his father's shoes until they all had left home. Nabil never realized his dream to get a college education.

Today Nabil is a successful contractor. He works hard and is known for his honesty, but his most outstanding quality is his big heart and cheerful take on life. He isn't bitter for the hand life has dealt him and is content building homes for others. But he is determined to give his children the chance he never had - they are all outstanding students.

Nabil thought it was strange when I told him that I wanted his picture for my blog, and was puzzled that I wanted it for my stories of heroes. It had never occured to him that putting the welfare of others before his own is what being a hero is all about.