“Every dinner will sow memories that last forever.”
Dear Friends,
Saving money! For many people, even the most assiduous of savers, hearing that is like being reminded of a checkup with the dentist, or even a root canal. But the bottom line is, although saving may feel 'painful' at the time and not show any immediate visible or concrete outcome, it offers a variety of options that can produce incredible results in the future. I will leave the details to financial gurus.
I saw an analogy to this during an inspirational moment at the beautiful Shabbat dinner with the Chabad Naples family, when a gentleman spoke about how his grandson knew an answer in a class because of the time he had spent with him a decade earlier. I was thinking about how many times we sit around with family having dinner together and sharing memories and insights, when we don’t think we are successful in transmitting a message or making an impression. The truth is, every nugget of information is like a cash deposit, and every time you save one of those cherished, special moments it will have a huge effect.
Have you heard of the Chinese Bamboo tree? It is a marvel of nature. After the seed of the tree is planted, you see nothing for four years except a tiny plant. You water and fertilize it for four years, but nothing happens. Then, suddenly in the fifth year, the Chinese Bamboo tree shoots up to the sky, growing to an astonishing 90 feet. That’s as tall as a 9-story building!
During those first four years, all the growth is underground. The Chinese Bamboo tree develops an enormous network of strong roots that spreads and goes deep into the earth. But if the farmer caring for the tree lost patience and stopped watering and nurturing the plant during those four long years, when he saw no tangible results, the tree would never grow.
Growth takes patience and persistence. Every drop of water makes a difference. Every Shabbat table makes a difference. The power of the Shabbat table has created sacred moments that drew families together and brought us closer to each other and G-d.
Every Kiddush counts, every Shabbat candle has an impact. True, you may not see the result right away. But growth is happening. So let’s all keep working and nurturing, and with G-d's help, that “fifth year” will come.
Wishing you a beautiful Shabbat,
Rabbi Fishel & Ettie Zaklos