Last week we quoted from the S’MaG who told us that included in the Mitzvah of Not Forgetting G-d is not being arrogant.
How so?
When a person takes pride in any of his gifts from G-d, which aren’t his own doing, that, in a sense, is Ga’avah/haughtiness.
We don’t make our money on our own, we don’t get our wisdom on our own, and we don’t get our physical prowess on our own- these are all gifts from G-d.
After I said this, I got a phone call from a person I know, who had an epiphany. He said he thanks Hashem for a lot of things. He thanks Hashem for his health, for his wife and family and even that his heart and eyes are functioning. But it never hit him to thank Hashem for his physical state. He elaborated: Some people are tall, and others short. Baruch Hashem he’s on the taller side. Some people are muscular, some people are weak, Baruch HaShem he’s muscular. Some people have thick hair, others have thin hair. He has a head of thick hair. He thought about all the things that are “him” and he never appreciated that this in itself is a gift from G-d. That’s an important point.
The Pele Yoetz says this in three or four different places: He mentions how some people are very generous, and they look at other people and see that they’re cheap. He also talks about how some people are very exacting, whereas other people are more easy-going. He mentions other such middot and points out that many people don’t spend much time working on these middot, because it’s their natural tendency to be generous, for example. How much time do people spend working on being kind and warm? Most of the time they are just naturally that way. Most people don’t work on these middot.
Of course, some people do work very hard on this. They may be naturally very sarcastic, or impatient, or angry, and they work very hard on themselves to get better.
But there are a lot of people that are just nice. Their parents are friendly, they are friendly, that’s their nature. And it’s a beautiful thing- but you must appreciate that it was a gift from G-d. Your middot, and your disposition, says the Pele Yoetz-
מתת אלוקים היא
Is a gift of G-d.
We have to appreciate this. Our whole essence- our minds, our IQs, even if smarts can be acquired by many people, those people have other natural tendencies they haven’t worked on. No one worked on themselves to be six feet tall, or tall, dark and handsome. No one worked on themselves for the color of their eyes or their freckles, or their dimples. These are all gifts of G-d. We have to pause, to contemplate and appreciate the qualities we have, that we are proud of, whether it’s walking into a room and commanding a certain respect, walking into a room and having people look at you, or whatever qualities you have that you think are special. We all look in the mirror and realize that we are special; we know that there is no one like us, and it’s true; G-d did not create any two people alike. But you didn’t make that uniqueness- that was a gift of G-d.
This is a beautiful thought to contemplate. It takes all the arrogance, flips it on its head and turns it into appreciation.
Wow.
What beautiful eyes I have- thank you Hashem.
What a beautiful smile I have- thank you Hashem.
Wow- what a nice way I have of dealing with people. I know how to negotiate people’s problems. Did I go to negotiating school or is it a natural technique I have?
I’m a great salesman.
I’m a great talker.
I’m a great listener
I’m a great empathizer.
I’m a great validator....
These are all great qualities, and I don’t mean to take credit away from you if you worked on them. But even if you worked on it, you came in with a certain edge- some people just have a certain edge naturally. There are people that are more patient than others, there are people that are kinder, warmer, or softer than others. There are people that are harder, rougher, and tougher. Those are things that we are born with-it’s in our DNA. Yes, we have freedom of choice. We can channel it, change it, and work on it, but a lot of it is a gift of G-d. Some people have fast metabolisms-they naturally burn calories, and they’re thin. Other people have slower metabolisms and they are overweight.
The man that is overweight, who’s grandma is overweight, it’s in his genes. He works very hard to lose weight. He might be working harder to lose weight that the thin guy.
These are gifts of G-d.
So, don’t just go into the suit store, try on the pants and say, “Wow, these fit so nicely.”
Did you work on your physique? These are all gifts of G-d.
It really is an eye-opener. This is not about external things. We’re not talking about your house, your business, your wife, your parents, your children, or your siblings. Those are also gifting of G-d. But today we’re talking about the gift of G-d of who you are, and your essence.
You are a great public speaker? Of course, you may have taken public speaking courses but maybe you’re naturally a great speaker.
Or you’re a great surfer, or a great ballplayer or a great tennis player. Or you’re athletic. Some people are totally clumsy and uncoordinated- they can’t dribble a ball or jump rope, and that’s the way they were born. Of course, they can work on it and get better, but you didn’t have to work on it-you were just always the best in sports. You were born that way, and you’re proud of it. You’re a great golfer, tennis player or skier. Even if you took lessons, you were ahead of the game when you started.
This is something to sit down and really think about. And even if you have thought about it before, that too was a gift of G-d .
But this fellow never thought about it, and so he gave me a call. And I thought about it, and he was right.
It’s a very good point, and I wanted to reiterate it and share it with all.
Have a wonderful day.