by guest rambler Rabbi Yosef Koval
Recently I took my two youngest (Malka, age 6, and Tzvi, age 4) to the pediatrician for their yearly checkups. Never a fun trip, as anyone with kids knows! In an effort to prep them for the possibility of a shot, I was telling Tzvi how proud I am of him that he is always so brave, citing as an example his cooperation when he gets a throat culture (unlike many of his other siblings). He seemed to feel pretty grown-up about that and proud of himself. That changed when the doctor, after looking over the records, told us he would need a shot. Uh oh! Now the words of encouragement came out of my mouth really fast! Unfortunately Tzvi wasn’t having any of it. “I don’t want a shooooooooooootttttttttt!!!!" (accompanied by sniffles, tears and yelling). When I told him that the doctor said he needs one he graciously offered, “I’ll take a throat culture instead!” I got a good chuckle at his ingenuity, where in his little mind he must figure that he needs to get some sort of torture when he comes to the doctor so it may as well be something he tolerates well.
Recently I took my two youngest (Malka, age 6, and Tzvi, age 4) to the pediatrician for their yearly checkups. Never a fun trip, as anyone with kids knows! In an effort to prep them for the possibility of a shot, I was telling Tzvi how proud I am of him that he is always so brave, citing as an example his cooperation when he gets a throat culture (unlike many of his other siblings). He seemed to feel pretty grown-up about that and proud of himself. That changed when the doctor, after looking over the records, told us he would need a shot. Uh oh! Now the words of encouragement came out of my mouth really fast! Unfortunately Tzvi wasn’t having any of it. “I don’t want a shooooooooooootttttttttt!!!!" (accompanied by sniffles, tears and yelling). When I told him that the doctor said he needs one he graciously offered, “I’ll take a throat culture instead!” I got a good chuckle at his ingenuity, where in his little mind he must figure that he needs to get some sort of torture when he comes to the doctor so it may as well be something he tolerates well.
Then
I began to wonder if I am any different than him. After all, G-d gives
everyone challenges throughout life (yes, EVERYONE). But we think we
would rather choose ones that are more tolerable. For example, some
people have the challenge of struggling to earn a decent living. “G-d,
let me have the challenges that come along with wealth instead,” we may
ask, thinking that we can tolerate that challenge much better. How silly
is that, though? Only G-d knows what challenges are right for us, to
perfect out souls and to make us better individuals. He is not some
mean-spirited despotic ruler who metes out arbitrary punishments at
random and we hope to be fortunate enough to land one that we can
manage. That’s as silly as requesting a throat culture when in reality
you need a shot. What good will the throat culture be for one who does
not have a sore throat? And what will happen to the person who needs a
shot but doesn’t get one?
Consider,
isn’t G-d at least as smart as a doctor? And are we not smarter than a
4-year-old? (Think about that before you answer!) Meanwhile, here’s a
sticker and a lollipop for being so good while reading this ramble!
