I once read a story of a young couple with a great future as prospective Olympians in the field of skiing. They practiced long and tedious hours and developed a relationship that led to love. They decided to get married. Their common interest was to ski and this was the basis of their relationship. When they conversed they inevitably reverted to the subject of their chances for an Olympic gold medal.
When the Olympics finally came around, the woman in this relationship had a terrible accident in the trials, which initially left her paralyzed from her shoulders down. Determined that this accident would not stop her from competing, she fought with determination from her wheelchair, until she realized one day that this turn of events might be her destiny for the remainder of her life.
When her fiancé visited her, he encouraged her to get well and to get up from her immobile state. He stayed with her until he had to leave to attend another competition but swore that he would return as soon as the competition was over.
Three months passed and the young lady was making outstanding progress. She called her fiancée inviting him to visit her in the hospital to share in the remarkable strides that she was making.
When he came to the hospital he saw his fiancée still in her wheelchair, but expected her to surprise him by jumping up and embracing him.
When he finally came close to her, to his shock and dismay, she showed him how she had advanced in these last months. She arduously and painstakingly picked up her fork, placed some food on it and laboriously and carefully placed it into her mouth. She looked for some expression of approval from her fiancée, but he stood there dumfounded, in total denial and disbelief.
Often we don’t appreciate the bountiful blessings that are given to us by Almighty G-d and we take for granted things which we feel are so basic, yet, when thinking about it, are very profound.
Ask a blind person if it is a miracle that people can see? Or ask a cripple or a deaf person if it is a miracle that people can walk or hear? In each case they will tell you that these are the true miracles in life, the ones we take for granted.
Generally people don’t appreciate the blessings that are given to them. When I have an appointment with my doctor and am asked to complete a preliminary document delineating my past health history, I thank Hashem as most of the ailments listed I did not have to check.
Teaching appreciation to our children in our day schools and yeshivot is equally essential in their realizing the many gifts that they have received from G-d. In my role as principal, I required that the students keep a journal which they list daily at least two things that they are thankful for. In their amazement and astonishment they began to realize the bounty of blessings that they have and the appreciation that they should show Almighty G-d for these gifts.
Often I would tell the children that when they recite the Shemoneh Esrei they may insert a special prayer during the beracha of Shema Koleinu and ask G-d for assistance in any area that they feel is important. However, I also alerted them to the fact that before they ask for anything they should acknowledge the many berachot that they have and express to G-d their thanks and appreciation. Often we are told to ask while not realizing that we must also express appreciation.
The rabbi of a certain congregation was congratulating parents on the forthcoming marriage of their children. In his remarks he also congratulated the grandparents and then he gave mazal tov to the great-grandparents who were also sitting among the congregation. When he completed recognizing the presence of all these relatives, he remarked:
“Friends, 100 years ago, if I would be standing on this podium before you, I would have rarely been able to recognize grandparents, let alone great grandparents. Most would have already passed on. Today, we live in miraculous times and we need to constantly show hakarat hatov to Almighty G-d for all the blessings that he has bestowed upon us.”
The young man facing his bride could not understand the basic miracles of human existence. The young girl who was stricken with this terrible accident realized all at once the enormity of the gifts that she had – the gifts that she and many of us take for granted.
The gift of health and being able to enjoy life to its fullest.