BS’D
Today’s Daily Dose of Emuna is dedicated to the memory of all those who perished on 9/11. May they all rest in peace and may the families be consoled and know no more sorrow, Amen.
The message Elul sends our way is certainly not one of despair and sadness. Elul ushers in a call for the Jewish People to elevate themselves so that they return to their soul root – reconnect to their G-dly spark.
How to awaken it? Let’s start by opening ourselves to experience and value the good there is in our lives. We should strive to put on rosy tinted glasses. Certainly it takes practice but the reward is endless. Living a life infused with gratitude drives you to sing your way through life!
It’s so easy to focus on the things that go ‘wrong’ and how much we lack. On the flip side, living with a deep sense of joy that comes from cherishing what we have, is a sign that our hearts are healthy and whole.
If you find it difficult to be thankful, the first thing you need to ask yourself is whether you wish to change your frame of mind. Genuine change will occur only if you experience an urgency to change. Not an ‘it would be nice to change’ attitude, but an ‘it just can’t stay this way’ approach.
One exercise we can put into practice right away can be learned from the Kotzker Rebbe ztk’l, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Morgenstern. Before replacing his worn-out shoes he would carefully wrap them up. Before placing them in the garbage he would say, “How can I simply toss away such a fine pair of shoes that have served me so well these past years?”
Developing appreciation of the things we dispose of, most certainly inspires us to be thankful for those things that continue to serve us in this world.
