When You Understand the Benefit of Your Unfortunate Plight, You Rejoice with It

TRUE STORY

There was once a man who was married to a terrible wife who made his life miserable, and he complained to the Arizal about his unfortunate plight. The Arizal revealed to him that in his last Gilgul he had been cruel to his spouse. Now, each time his wife hurts him, it is a fantastic Kapara for his past, and it saves him from the worst Gehinom.

Upon hearing this, the man became overjoyed with all the pain his wife was giving him. He began showering her with gifts, for doing such a great job hurting him. His wife was puzzled by his new attitude, and asked him why he rewarded her evil with good? He shared what the Arizal said. Now, she started acting nice and sweet; she didn’t want him to be spared from his Gehinom!

He came running back to the Arizal, about his new crisis that she was acting sweet so that he should lose his much needed Kapara. The Arizal assured him that at this point he already had his Tikkun, and from now on he would lead a normal happy life.