Gaining Perspective

This week a young woman I know became very seriously ill from an infection in her brain following complications after giving birth to her first child, a healthy baby girl. Baruch Hashem she has overcome hopefully the worst of the infection and is making steady progress, yet her condition still remains serious.

Of course something as serious as this situation makes you stop in your tracks, and realize just how fortunate we are. Here I am complaining to my husband about having a cold and still needing to work, and someone else is suffering so much more intensely- a young mother like myself. Its times like these that I hug my son and remember to enjoy every diaper change, every bath time, and all the other ‘mundane’ daily occurrences. Instead of wishing I was elsewhere having more fun, I begin to appreciate the blessings in my life.

Its the collection of what appears to be the mundane everyday actions that turns into something truly profound- a full, wonderful life, and a chance to become a giver and not just a taker. What better purpose is there in life than to move beyond our own needs and concerns in order to help someone else? And who needs and deserves our chessed (acts of kindness) more than our loved ones?

May Batya Shira bat Chasida have a complete refuah and return home to her new baby in good health.

Check out this class by Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller  from Naaleh.com in which she discusses the meaning of trust and the meaning of suffering: