Every person faces challenges in life. We all seek ways to avoid them. Here is a powerful story, with guidance from the esteemed Rav of Yerushalayim, R’ Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld.
Early one morning, R’ Yosef Chaim was walking down a quiet street in Yerushalayim. Coming toward him was a teenage Arab, who took a decayed orange and threw it at him.
His escorting gabbai was shocked at the audacity of this boy, yet when he looked at R’ Yosef Chaim, he was even more shocked. His face was radiating with joy. It seemed as if to R’ Yosef Chaim, nothing had just happened. R’ Yosef Chaim was only thanking Hashem. This surprised the gabbai. What is he thanking Him for?
Noticing his wonder, R’ Yosef Chaim explained that when one is faced with a din, a good way to get out of it is by finding the good in it. By finding the good, this BE”H will null the punishment decreed on a person.
“Where can I find the ‘good’ in this situation?” questioned R’ Yosef Chaim. “The answer is simple. Had this Arab thrown a rock, it would’ve endangered us. Now that he threw an orange, all I got was shame. Isn’t that a worthy reason to thank Hashem?!”
In every situation, there is always something to be thankful for. With some thought to it, we BE”H will see brachah.
