The Thorny Rose
Sitting at my desk, with a piece of paper and a pen in front of me, pondering about my next writing " A day of my life. " Half hour later I knew nothing would come, I know I could just start writing about " this day " from dawn to dusk, hundred brachos a day, davening and reciting Tehillim in midst of my busy life. But I want something more, something inspiring, showing how much simcha is involved. Our lives are full of serving HaShem, we do it with love and it is not a burden.
To get some more inspiration I went over to my bookcase, my eye caught one of my new books "It's all about change " by Rabbi Zechariah Wallerstein ז"ל
Scanning through the contents, I rested upon " Hakaras HaTov" - gratitude.
The concept of hakaras hatov is well known to the most of us, what it really means is the ability to thank HaShem even for the worst moments of our lives...
In memory of Rabbi Zechariah Wallerstein ז"ל
About five months after the release of my first book, Let There Be Rain and its a accompanying The Book of Remembrances -- Sefer Zichronos, a journal to the chronical everyday remembrances of gratitude, I was approached by someone with an idea.
" Rabbi Wallerstein, " he said, " I want you to give this book out to young children, so that they can begin to appreciating the importance of hakaras hatov and implement it in their lives." I saw the value of his vision and was in complete agreement. The only consideration was the financial end of it. " Each book is on sale for $ 30, " I said. " Who's going to fund this ?" " I am, " he said, looking me square in the eyes.
There we were, just having given birth to a small idea that would be sure to carry large ripple effects. This man didn't just talk the talk. He walked the walk. He had an idea and also the conviction needed to implement it.
On one of my subsequent trips to speak at various middle schools, I brought along with me three thousand copies of The book of Remembrances -- Sefer Zichronos chronicle. I planned on handing copies out to the students at each school and speaking to them about the meaning of hakaras hatov and how to make it a daily part of their lives.
In my talks to the students, I explained how hakaras hatov isn't simply recognizing that something is good. It also refers to a scenario where something does not look good, and even there you are able to ascertain the good within. In every life situation, the good is taken note and appreciated.
To drive my point home, I asked the girls, " What is the most beautiful flower ?" " A rose, " they all answered. It isn't for naught that Shlomo HaMelech is Shir HaShirim compares the Jewish people to a rose. We are HaShem's most beloved flower in His world's garden.
But think about a rose. It has thorns an easily pricks and cuts anyone who extends their hand to grab hold of it. So how is it beautiful ?
The answercomes down to how you view the rose. Did HaShem create a rose with thorns, or did He create thorns with flowers. Your perspective will determine if you see the thorns as something good or not. Are the thorns an asset or liability ?
Knowing this, I posed the question to the hundred of girls seated in an auditorium. " Many flowers don't have thorns. Why then did HaShem make it that roses have thorns ? HaShem should have left the most beautiful flower without any ! "
A sixth- grade girl meekly raised her hand. " Rabbi Wallerstein, it's because HaShem wanted to protect His most beautiful flower. " She nailed it.
I remember planting fruits and vegetables each spring in my home garden, and every year, the chipmunks, rabbits,squirrels, and cats would destroy them all. It was almost as if I was planting the fruits and vegetables for them ! The only flowers they never got to were the roses. The rose bush remained intact -- because the thorns protected it.
When Shlomo HaMelech called us HaShem's rose, he was alluding to the fact that we are HaShem's most precious nation, and therefore HaShem provides us with extra protection. We are His children, and He watches over us with added care and a close eye. Nations that have attempted to annihilate us have been annihilated themselves. The Greek, Persian, and Roman empires are no longer here. We have HaShem's strength surrounding us and His gurantee for our eternal survival. We are His dearest flower, and are treated as such.
This is what true hakaras hatov looks like. You can observe a rose with thorns and say, " Wow ! HaShem created these thorns and then decided to place an beautiful flower on top ! " Or, " HaShem creates such an sharp thorns to protect the flower from predators and those who want to destroy it ! " Such an attitude comes from a mind that sees the world differently.
There is a famous quote: " I cried because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet. " But always wondered why he stopped crying because he met someone with no feet. Nothing changed. He still had no shoes.
The answer is that he looked at his life differently. He focused on potential. The other man would never be able to have shoes, whereas he may not have had shoes right now, but he had feet. If he had feet, he would have shoes one day in the future.
That's the greatness of hakaras hatov, You see potential. Within the bleak bitterness of thorns, you see the good because we awaiting to blossom.
We as the Jewish people, no matter what circumstances befall us, we always have potential. We can always see the good because we always know there is a future. We will endure for eternity.
We as individuals too always have potential. HaShem will never forsake us. He will watch over us and tend to us as His most beautiful and beloved flower.
Forever.
#TeamMoshiach.