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8 Av 5760 - August 9, 2000 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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Home and Family
Lucky Break
by Rosally Saltsman

I'm clumsy.

This may be due to a lack of natural grace and agility, but is more a combination of impatience and lack of perfectionism in certain areas. Domesticity (read: housekeeping) is one of those imperfect areas in my life. This means that dishes and the like are not stacked neatly in piles in my kitchen cupboards but are rather haphazardly hanging over the dish rack or are at precarious spots on the kitchen counter. It is not surprising, therefore, that I frequently (read: almost daily) break a glass or a dish. Now the state of my house usually doesn't bother me, and boruch Hashem, I have good friends who bring me gifts at least twice a year -- invariably glasses. They know. But when glasses break at my feet or dishes fall on my head, it's irking. Especially since I often walk around in stockingfeet, besides which, sweeping, in general, is a major household chore.

Recently, however, when a plate fell into the dairy sink and smashed into pieces and a few hours later, a glass met its shattering demise in the meat sink, I was struck with a thought. "Boruch Hashem, it wasn't me -- not a scratch on a hand or foot." I read recently that sometimes, our bad qualities are given to us for a greater good. In other words, when I merit Divine Retribution for something, Hashem allows me to pay with a dish or a glass instead of something more serious. Of course, I must take the hint, but still in all, this payment plan is made easier because I am naturally rushed and as a result, clumsy. Now this obviously isn't to say that I shouldn't learn to be more efficient and orderly, or that people who are, invite something of a more serious nature to happen to them. What I am trying to say is that sometimes, our negative qualities are blessings in disguise. My clumsiness allows Divine Justice to be meted out to me in palatable servings (sometimes at my feet).

And if I was born this way, which indications point to, and I thank Hashem daily for being what I am, she'osani kirtzono -- Me and all that it entails -- I am referring to the package deal. And sometimes, the package turns out to be a surprise -- for the better. It all depends on how you look at it.

 

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