Miller's Musings for the Seventh Day of Pesach: The Right Attitude for Gratitude

בס''ד

For centuries we have prayed daily for the coming of the Moshiach with the most righteous amongst us fervently beseeching G-d to end this virulent exile. But in truth there were moments throughout history where there were glimpses of the final redemption, when unique individuals were painfully close to fulfilling all conditions required to be the one that would bring about the perfection of creation.  And yet it was not to be and is still yet to be.  One such example was King Chizkiyahu who we are told would have been the Moshiach had he sung a Shiro to Hashem after he had miracles performed for him.  The questions arise why indeed he did not sing a song of praise to Hashem and moreover what such a song is actually meant to express?

The miracle that occurred at the Red Sea, when almost simultaneously the Jewish people were saved and the Egyptians vanquished, was one that left no possibility of being anything other than an explicit act of G-d.  The reaction to such a clear manifestation of G-d’s power was the Shiro, a song that lauded Hashem for the salvation He and only He performed.  Chizkiyohu also saw wonders wrought by Hashem for the Jewish people, but, says the Sifsei Chaim, he feared that somewhere within him there would be a semblance of feeling that attributed part of the deliverance to himself, rather than G-d.  This slight lack of awareness of the total role that Hashem played in the miracle, meant that it would be inappropriate for him to sing Shiro, a song that proclaims absolute and unmitigated thanks to the One who alone delivers us from ruin.

We all know how much we have to thank Hashem for and at times at least recognise it is He that has given it to us.  But this is not enough.  Our gratitude to Hashem should not be like a birthday card, once a year declaring our appreciation of its recipient.  If we are truly grateful, there should be a constant awareness of how much we are the beneficiaries of.  If we are to truly appreciate all Hashem does for us, we must develop not only a continual mindfulness of His good, but also a cognizance that he is the only One that is actually providing that good.  It is He and He alone that decides the blessings we are bestowed with. When we have that awareness and when we live with that appreciation, we then will be able to sing the Shiro with a full heart, ushering in the times of the Moshiach, when we will see clearly Hashem’s hand and Hashem’s love in every aspect of our lives.

*May our appreciation of Pesach bring us ever closer to our redemption*

לעילוי נשמת לאה בת אברהם 

לעילוי נשמת שרה יעל בת גרשון

לרפואת אלימלך יהושע אהרון בן דבורה רבקה