R' Hutner once told R' Ahron Kotler a story about a family who hesitated in marrying off their daughter to a certain Bachur. Although a Masmid, this Bachur had difficulties in his learning since he wasn’t a Baal Kish’ron bright. They asked R’ Yehoshua Leib Diskin what to do, and he advised that when Chazal say: ָכּ ַה ל ְמ ַק ֵי ֶא םי ַה תתּוֹ ָר ֵמ העוֹ ִנ י סוֹפוֹ ְל ַק ְי ָמיהּ ֵמעוֹ ֶשׁ ר אבות ד ט A poor person who learns Torah will eventually become rich, also refers to one who is “poor” in Kish’ron intelligence. The family followed his advice, and sure enough their son-in-law eventually developed new Kishronos [“wealth”] and became a big Talmid Chacham.
When R’ Ahron Kotler heard this, he began to cry. He explained that he had always been brilliant, and never had these challenges. R' Ahron understood the greatness of people who have difficulties, enough for him to cry because he didn’t have them!
Very often, the greatest Neshamos have unusual difficulties in Torah and other areas. They fight their Yetzer Hara, and don’t feel they are winning. But if they keep fighting, they are actually much greater than others who succeed in Torah and Yir’as Shamayim without difficulties.
