Welcome to the daily Chizuk (encouragement). Hashem sees every good deed we do. Hashem knows exactly how much effort was put in and how difficult it was to accomplish. When we help another person, Hashem rewards both in this world and the next. The Midrash on Megillat Rut says that someone who is gomel chesed (performs kindness) is awarded extra heavenly protection. The mefarshim (commentators) say this means that even if a certain affliction was supposed to happen, the merit of the chesed will stop it and accomplish whatever that affliction needed to accomplish. The pasuk (verse) in Mishlei says, “Someone who pursues tzedaka (charity) and chesed will find life itself.”
A man told me that his wife was pregnant in her ninth month when a friend asked her if she would go into the mikveh (ritual bath) before her. The friend had been trying to have children for a couple of years, and she had heard it was a segulah (auspicious practice) to go into the mikveh after a woman in her ninth month goes. The man’s wife said, “No problem. Call me when you’re ready to go, and I’ll go.” The call came late Friday afternoon. She was getting ready for Shabbat, and her friend asked, “Will you please go with me tonight?” The woman was thinking, “I’m almost ready for Shabbat. I just want to relax now. And now I’m going to go walk on a Friday night.” But she said, “I have to do the right thing,” and she went.
A few days later, the man’s wife wasn’t feeling so well, and she went to the mikveh. The doctor said she got an infection because she was already dilated, and it’s not a good idea to go to the mikveh while dilated. The woman could have thought, “This is my reward for helping out someone in need.” But a couple of minutes later, the doctor said, “We did some tests, and your baby is in distress, totally unrelated. The cord is wrapped around the neck, and we need to induce you right now.” Baruch Hashem, the baby was totally fine and healthy, and the doctor said, “It’s a miracle. It’s a miracle. You came to us now because the baby wouldn’t have survived if we waited much longer.” P.S.: The other lady also conceived that month. Rodef chesed yimtza chaim (Someone who pursues tzedaka and chesed will find life itself). It was the extra effort to do the chesed that brought two lives into the world.
Rabbi Nosson Sherman told me a story. One of his relatives was in seminary in Israel, and she was doing chesed, giving an extra hand to families who needed help with their children. One of the children she was taking care of contracted hepatitis. She was told she needed to get the vaccine as soon as possible. She was also told there was a Dr. Slater who lived right near where she lived, in the building next door, and that she should go there. She went there and got the shot. A month later, she was in her apartment with a friend who was having a medical emergency. She didn’t know how to help. She remembered there was a doctor close by. She practically carried her friend there, and the doctor treated her immediately. He said, “You need 10 more minutes and your friend would have been gone.” She could have thought, “I’m doing chesed. I have to deal with hepatitis shots.” But in truth, it was only because of the chesed that she found out about the doctor who was able to save her friend’s life. A Hatzalah member from Brooklyn told me two more very similar stories about people whose own lives were saved because of the chesed they were doing.
Rodef chesed yimtza chaim. We have to believe that Hashem takes notice of and cherishes every bit of effort that we put in for other people. We don’t always see the immediate rewards, but Hashem is ne’eman (faithful) to pay not only in the next world, but here as well. Somewhere, somehow, the chesed will protect you. Have a great day.