A Soulful Journey

“A mother has to wear a large apron to cover the faults of her children.” –folk saying We work hard to educate, teach them how to have respect, and grow in morals as well as stature.  All the while, the protective parent puts the best face on the shortcomings of the child.   Sometimes, raising a child to be honest with their gifts and accept their deficits is the greatest gift we can give them.  Not everyone will be a rock star or football legend.  The main thing is to teach our children to find their love and excel at it.

Rabbi Israel Rizhiner lived in a very comfortable fashion. A modern Jew once visited the rabbi and was amazed at his luxurious surroundings. ”This is quite a contrast from the way the rabbis lived past years,” he remarked.   “Then they resided in wooden houses, dressed in plain linen clothes, and traveled on foot. Today the rabbis dwell in palaces, wrap themselves and velvet and satin and travel around in beautiful coaches.” ”There are three classes of people who come to a rabbi,” Rabbi Israel Rizhiner replied.  “Hasidim, ordinary people and frivolous men.   All three give the rabbi contributions. This money the rabbi spends according to the donors. The money that the hasidim give him, the rabbi spends on mitzvot and tzedakah.  The money that ordinary people give he spends for sustenance of himself and his family. But the money he obtains from the frivolous, the rabbi spends on luxuries. Years ago there were no frivolous people,...

"In back of every achievement is a proud wife and a surprised mother-in-law."  - Brooks Hays

In the concentration camp, it did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us.” – Viktor Frankl This is life as it really is.

The famous English author, Sir Walter Scott, met a beggar.  Scott reached into his pocket for a gold piece, which he handed to the bagger, saying, "Here is five pounds, but remember to return it to me some day." "May the good Lord bless you with long years," the beggar fervently invoked, "because it will take long, long years before I remember to return this money." For the receiver: Never give up hope that you can turn your life around.  You are worthy of greater. For the giver: Do not expect any favor to be returned.  Acts of goodness do not expect recompense.  Such thinking deflates the act.