Yidden of Yore Lived Lives of Appreciation
When It’s Natural
Now let us return to the tefillos of our forebears. When a person has something naturally, he doesn’t need any fancy titles and courses. He just “has it....”
For example, people who were born with natural musical talent are generally able to play instruments without taking lessons. They just sit down at the piano and play better than a person who has taken courses for it.
The same applies to a person who naturally understands the nefesh of a person. He doesn’t have a diploma, and he hasn’t graduated with a social work degree, but he has the ability to understand people. When a person has a natural feel for something, he understands it better than a person who studied it extensively.
A Life of Gratitude
Our grandmothers “had it!” They possessed a true and natural connection with Hashem. They may not have been able to explain the philosophy of their davening according to the words of the Kadmonim—but they always overflowed with gratitude to Hashem, and they took nothing for granted.
The same bubbes who davened to Hashem for everything with directness and simplicity could always be seen standing in the kitchen, thanking Hashem incessantly for every minute detail in their lives. They didn’t do so because they heard that it’s a segulah to say “thank You, Hashem.” They didn’t thank Hashem because if we say “thank You” for forty days we get something in return.... They didn’t need anything; they simply felt so grateful to Hashem that the words flowed from their mouths. They were bashful and humbled by the great kindnesses of Hashem.
This was the essence of our pious grandmothers—and we don’t need to go back centuries in time for this. We can see it in the older women of our generation, and we must learn from them. Their entire approach in life was that they’re owed nothing. I’m alive? Thank You, Hashem. My feet carry me? Praised be Hashem. They didn’t learn great and deep Torah to know this. This was their essence!
Always Adjoining
Where did they derive it from so naturally? This is an interesting question. It’s possible that it’s due to the chinuch of the earlier generations, which was based in emunah peshutah. It’s also possible that the neshamos of earlier generations were more refined and more elevated than our own. Potentially, the world of their youth wasn’t yet so materialistic.
The bottom line is that these people weren’t always needing something... they didn’t feel entitled and that everything is coming to them. They didn’t operate with today’s mindset, “If Hashem would only give me another 10-12 items on my list, things would be so wonderful.... I’m willing to thank Hashem all day, but if He could only cross off a few more items from my list... just a few.” And when this person does thank Hashem, it’s often with a segulah in mind, because he wants something in return.
Our ancestors didn’t operate this way. They would thank Hashem incessantly, and they would immediately transition to supplicating Hashem that the challos for Shabbos should rise properly. They were naturally always adjoining גאולה and תפילה. Their entire essence was one of praise for all the redemptions and salvations in their lives. They lived this with natural simplicity, and thus they didn’t need any deep understanding of tefillah—for in simplicity lies the greatest depth.
