The Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation shared a story. Gitta Levin opened an envelope that was attached to a beautiful bouquet of flowers that had just been delivered to her door. It was a thank-you note from Sara Green, a young woman she sometimes saw in Shul.
Gitta thought, “This must be a mistake. Sara must have meant for these flowers to be delivered to a different Levin.” She called Sara Green to let her know about the mix-up, but Sara let her know that there was no mix-up at all.
She explained, “One Shabbos, a few weeks ago, you left Shul with me after Davening,” Sara reminded her. “That day was my best friend’s Chasan’s Aufruf. She is my last single friend, and I was feeling very lost and alone. I decided, that’s it, I’m not dating anymore. I’m almost 35, and if there’s someone out there for me, I would have found him by now. Why keep going out and being disappointed? I’ll make the best life I can as a single woman.
But as we walked out together, you smiled at me and said, ‘Sara, you look stunning in that suit! Where do you get your impeccable fashion sense? I’m sure your children will be the best-dressed kids on the block!’
“I was speechless. Not just at the warm compliment, but at the fact that you saw me having a family of my own one day. You awakened the hope in me that I could meet my Bashert and become a wife and a mother. I felt like a new person! That’s what your compliment did.
“And it happened at just the right time, because I had recently gotten a Shidduch suggestion that I had decided not to accept. The Chizuk you gave me made me feel that maybe it was worth a try. So now, I want to give you something to show my appreciation, Mrs. Levin, because last night, I became a Kallah! Who knows what might have been if not for your thoughtful, positive words?!”
Reprinted from the Parshas Acharei Mos-Kedoshim 5785 email of Rabbi Yehuda Winzelberg’s Torah U’Tefilah.
