It was in the late 1700’s and there lived a man, whom we’ll call Yeshaya, that suffered from his wife’s distresses. At a young age, his wife began losing her mind, and the household maintenance soon fell entirely on him. Within a few short months, his wife was completely dysfunctional, and the breadwinner was left to launder the clothes and supply supper. Yeshaya didn’t know how to cope with the situation, and the new stress was taking its toll.
Yeshaya visited his hometown to seek guidance and chizuk from his beloved rebbi, Reb Moshe Leib of Sassov. Besides for being his rebbi, the Sassover himself endured great yesurim, and Yeshaya was sure that he was the right one to guide him. Reb Moshe Leib’s body was covered with blisters to the point that even regular movement was bothersome. He davened that his blisters wouldn’t cover the three fingers of his right hand. He was a sought after mohel, and didn’t want the blisters to prevent him from fulfilling that special mitzva.
(Reb Moshe Leib not only had yesurim, but also brought them upon himself. Once, the Rebbe’s son overheard his father ask for the yesurim to disappear at a particular time and only return later.)
When Yeshaya arrived at R’ Moshe Leib’s home, though, he felt an aura of simcha and kedusha permeating through the air, as if the Rebbe had detached himself from the struggles he was facing.
Yeshaya asked the Rebbe, “How are you always b’simcha? You are also faced with many pressing challenges, and yet you are a perpetual source of happiness. A stranger would think that your life is filled with bliss, but I know that it’s not. How do you keep afloat?”
R’ Moshe Leib answered affectionately, “I awake to the struggles of my everyday life, but their weight lasts only until I say ‘Shelo Asani Goy.’ As I say the bracha, all my aches and pains disappear, as I’m filled with immense gratitude and joy, and that alone relieves my problems. I reflect how Hashem handpicked me out of the seven-plus billion people on the planet, and that distracts me from my pain. The nisyonos then find no home in my heart. Ashreinu, ma tov chelkeinu.”
Hearing this, Yeshaya felt that he’d gotten the proper advice to prevent him from drowning in his challenge. He had learned to appreciate who he was and value his self-worth.
