I grew up in a household where things were not taken for granted. It took hard work, mental or physical effort to achieve certain things. Some prayer and mazel thrown in for good measure.
Good health was never taken for granted because health issues abounded. Medical emergencies, some more serious than others, are part of my memories of childhood and adulthood.
It is for that reason that whenever I kissed my mother and father, and wished them a good yom tov -- whether Pesach or Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur or Sukkot -- or even a good birthday or anniversary or Mother's Day or Father's Day, both parents, primarily my father, always said to me, "We should be able to wish each other the same...next year again, G-d willing." When we finished the second Pesach seder, or broke the Yom Kippur fast, or lit the Chanukah candles on the last night of Chanukah, it was "We should be able to do this...next year again, G-d willing."
My parents were with us for the second day of Sukkot. Upon leaving my home, my parents and I wished each other a good Yom Tov and then we each said, "We should be able to wish each other the same...next year again, G-d willing. We should be able to do this...next year again, G-d willing."
The calendar year is a cycle -- twelve months pass, one after the other. Seasons pass, one after the other. We take the months and the seasons for granted.
The Jewish calendar is also a cycle -- the months pass, holidays come and go, the seasons change. We take the months, the seasons and the Jewish holidays for granted.
Life is also a cycle -- the calendar years pass, the seasons come and go, milestones and celebrations greet us, and unfortunately, sometimes so do difficult and sad times.
And although life stares at us -- and we stare back, hopefully being able to smile as well -- we should never take it for granted.
Each and every one of us should learn to say, "...next year again, G-d willing."
9 comments:
my grandparents always say this and it's mamesh the truth. Each day is a blessing for all of us, young or old. a gut moed.
beautiful post Pearl. I wasn't on the computer all day and I come back to three posts...yikes, you're making me work hard!
So very true. Unfortunately, tragedy (or near-tragedy) gives us insights that we often wouldn't otherwise have.
Maven, even when I was young, I thought like an older person when it came to these realities of life. It is true, as your grandparents used to say, too.
CM, thank you. Believe me, my three posts do not equate with the quality and laugh track of even one of yours!
Elie, who wouldn't know better than you. I must tell you, I automatically cried when I read your comment on "I Wish..."'s post about her mother. We have to look for something when bad things happen, and your idea of Hashem being there to help us through the bad times is the supreme answer.
What wise, wise words.
I feel the same way.
It's difficult when you can't say that anymore... "...next year again, G-d willing." to the person you really want to say it to... Sometimes I took for granted that my dad would always be there next year- but not this time. His memory wil be a blessing for me and I hope a lesson as well.
Similar words were spoken in my family. And another phrase ended many sentences -- "....use it in the best of health."
May we not take life for granted in the coming year. And may we appreciate the blessings of each day.
Kasamba: re. wise words...my blog isn't called "pearlies of wisdom" for nothin'!
RCJ: You're going through such a difficult time right now, without the chance to wish another "yearly" blessing on your father. But you do know you were blessed with him as he was with you. You're in my thoughts...
Stacey: You also had several lows and sad points in your life this past year; you're right about being appreciative. Some people just know how to appreciate "the finer things in life"--but it is mostly the simpler things in life that have the greatest meaning for us.
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