There is an inyan (idea) of saying Thank You Hashem for everything. The good, the not so good, and everything in between. (Is there really anything in between?) A few months ago I got this book called The Garden of Miracles by Rabbi Shalom Arush. I have a few of his other books, and thought that this would make a lovely addition to the Yossi Chaim a'h Memorial Library. However, after I read one story, I thought it was "stupid". Basically, the premise of the book is to say Thank You to Hashem and you will see miracles happen. The first story was a childless couple who decided to accept they were never going to have kids and they thanked Hashem for their childlessness. I never finished the story, thinking it was pure drivel. (OK, I admit ... sometimes I can be very cynical.) Then I saw a really cute video on my bereavement group. It was forwarded from the Thank You Hashem group. I ended up joining one of the groups (they have 11 or 12 of them now to accommodate all the people who want to be part of it). AND .... I thought it was stupid. Thank you Hashem for giving me a parking spot ... Thank you Hashem for me not getting a ticket .... Thank you Hashem for blah blah blah ... such mundane, everyday little annoyances of life. Big time cynical, so I decided I had enough and I was going to leave the group.
Before I left though, I felt that maybe I needed to give it a shot. I had just bought 3 or 4 bags of jewelry, so I said, Thank you Hashem for giving me jewelry bags (which are getting harder and harder to get lately). As I am going through the bags, they seem to be very blah bags. Until I pulled out a 14K gold bracelet. I got real excited and said, THANK YOU HASHEM! Then I remembered the group. I said to Hashem, if I pull out another piece of gold, I will post to the group. Lo and behold! Next I pulled out a 14K gold necklace. All in all, I had several pieces of gold, some silver, and some lovely vintage pieces. I did publicly post to the group, and since then I've been a "reformed" person.
Fast forward to Nov 1, a week before Rosh Chodesh Kislev. A cyber-friend posted to the bereavement group a message from her Thank You Hashem group that it is a custom to say shir hashirim for 40 days, ending on the 8th day of Chanukah, called Zos Chanukah. I have very bitter feelings towards Zos Chanukah, as that is the day that we found out Yossi's treatment wasn't working. I found out later that Zos Chanukah is also the final day of judgement back from Tishrei ... which is why I feel a little bitter towards it. So I decided to transform Zos Chanukah into a positive experience. I decided that for me, I would take these forty days and use them to thank Hashem. Each day I am trying to come up with 10 things in my life that I am thankful for. Today is Day 22 of my personal "Thank Hashem" mission. Since today is also Thanksgiving, I'll share a few of my things I am thankful for. Maybe it will inspire someone else to be thankful for the small things in their lives.
This is not the full list, just 40 of them, not in any particular order:
- My wonderful husband
- President Trump
- Shabbos
- Smart phones
- reading glasses
- umbrellas
- warm blankets
- Bill of Rights
- the US Constitution
- autumn leaves
- perfume
- milk chocolate
- teshuva
- hazelnut flavored coffee
- Binah magazine
- Savvy Sheitels
- sleeping in
- thrift stores
- yummy peppers in pretty colors
- hugs & kisses from grand kids
- What's App
- fantastic friends
- Jewish music
- my pink Sig Sauer p238
- Dansko shoes
- my family -- My mom; brother, in-laws, kids (and kids-in-law), grand kids
- pareve chocolate chips
- shells to wear under clothes in so many gorgeous colors
- awesome neighbors
- shabbos naps
- razors (and shaving cream!)
- Cooks Illustrated
- Our Tapestry
- sweet juicy oranges
- almonds
- jewelry!
- Drop Box
- the Torah & mitzvos (to connect w/ Hashem)
- lipstick
- pre-made pizza crusts
Gee ... what does it say about me that so many of my things revolve around food? LOL ... I guess today is a perfect day to be thankful for all the wonderful things Hashem has given us, especially the delish food!
Happy Thanksgiving! Try and make every day a day to Thank Hashem for all the good He has bestowed on you, and you will see how much you really have to be thankful for. ~ Leah
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