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Home
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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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