It was the first time I had gotten a taste of Shabbos. I was hosted in the home of a lovely family in Bnei Brak, who accept- ed me warmly and gave me a wonderful feeling. Besides me, there was a young couple there, with two small children who added much color to the whole celebration. I played with the children and thoroughly enjoyed them, and a moment before we parted, I felt it would be very fitting for me to give them a gift.
I had not planned this ahead of time, but Hashem had arranged a perfect gift for me: a cute teddy bear. The little ones were happy with the new teddy bear, and I hurried home.
Another plan was awaiting me on Motzaei Shabbos. My friend had invited me to celebrate her baby’s first birthday with her. I had originally planned on giving the teddy bear in my pocket to my friend, in honor of her baby’s birthday...
But the teddy bear was already given away, and now I had to think of another idea for a gift. What would I give her? It was Motzaei Shabbos now, and the stores were closed. I recalled that once, I had thought of giving someone a sefer Tehillim as a present, and in the end I gave her something else. The sefer was already gift-wrapped, and it could serve as a present. I did not know, however, how she would take to this gift, since my friend does not yet keep mitzvos.
I arrived at the celebration. The baby ran toward me. I could not give him the present in hand for fear that he would not be careful with the kedushah of the sefer. I gave the sefer to his mother, and to my surprise, her mother, who was standing be- side her, said, “What a nice gift you brought! If you’d brought a game, it would have occupied the baby for only a few months, but you brought something that will accompany him throughout his life!”
I was pleased that the gift was accepted happily.
Several months passed, and my friend called and told me this amazing story:
A week ago, the baby’s fever went up. He refused to eat, and I was worried about him. I went to the doctor, and he could not figure out the source of the problem. I went to more doctors, and soon I was sent to the emergency room, but they sent me home, since no one could figure out how to help my son.
Last night, I came to the emergency room with him again. The doctors told me to wait, and I sat at my son’s
