In this week’s Torah portion Vaera we read about the first seven plagues. The very first plague was blood. The Nile and all the other sources of water turned to blood and were undrinkable. A Midrash (Shemot Rabbah 9:10) explains why Aaron struck the Nile to initiate the first two plague of blood and frogs. (Exodus 7:9, 19). Because the Nile protected baby Moses in his basket as he floated down the river, Moses smiting the river would be inappropriate. The Torah is teaching us an important lesson. We should develop a gratitude attitude. If we should show gratitude to water, an inanimate object which has no feelings, how much more so should we express our gratitude to human beings who have shown us kindness!
When I worked at Camp Ramah in New England either as a
Hebrew or Judaic teacher, my job was a breeze compared to those who worked in
the kitchen. I only taught 4 period out
of eight a day (of course I used some of the other periods to prepare the next day’s
lesson plans). The kitchen staff had to prepare close to 1000 meals three times
a day seven days a week, as well as washing the dirty dishes, and cleaning up
the dining room after each meal so it would be ready for the next meal several
hours later. While many grumbled that
the food just wasn’t like the way mother made it, I tried to thank the kitchen
staff after each meal to show my gratitude for all their hard work and effort.
Working in a kitchen has to be one of hardest of all the camp jobs and I know
they appreciated my words by the smiles on their faces.
Try a gratitude practice by saying “thank you” at
least 100 times a day. Over time you’ll make a lot of people happy and you’ll
discover that you’ll be a happier person too!
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