YES you CAN
This was written in memory of my dear suegra, my mother-in-law Mrs. Frida Ferdose bat Rivka, a’h. Today is her yertziet. She was one of the most positive, encouraging and beautiful role-models of my life. May this be an aliya to her beautiful neshama.
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Caught up in a tornado she forgets something so powerful and so simple. Yes, she’s so caught up in her story, the story, that she seems to forget who she really is or from where she comes. She looks at herself as weak and uncapable, and it’s a shame, a pity.
She’s probably one of the most resilient people that I know. One of the strongest. She’s bright. She’s pretty. She’s hard-working and kind. Lots and lots of gifts from G-d.
But she can’t see it.
So I have to remind her. She has to remind herself.
“Look at you!”
Yes, look at you. Look at the strength, the skills, the power to keep going and overcome. Think about where you come from and all that Hashem gave you.
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Come, speak to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and he will let the children of Israel out of his land." But Moses spoke before the Lord, saying, "Behold, the children of Israel did not hearken to me. How then will Pharaoh hearken to me, seeing that I am of closed lips?" These [following] are the heads of the fathers' houses: The sons of Reuben, Israel's firstborn: Enoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Karmi, these are the families of Reuben…. And these are the names of Levi's sons after their generations: Gershon, Kehath, and Merari, and the years of Levi's life were one hundred thirty seven years… Amram took Jochebed, his aunt, as his wife, and she bore him Aaron and Moses, and the years of Amram's life were one hundred thirty seven years. That is Aaron and Moses, to whom the Lord said, "Take the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt with their legions." Shemot 6:11-26)
So you see Moshe has an order from G-d. G-d tells him GO, DO. Moshe says, “I can’t.” He gives his excuse and presents his weakness. The Torah interrupts the narrative and tells us, like we don’t already know…, about Moshe’s incredible lineage. Then we go back to the story of Moshe and his G-d ordained job.
Why? Because we all need reminding. We all need encouraging.
Look at you! Look at the strength, the beauty of from where you come. Draw forth from it. Focus on it!
The test that we are in. Who says that we can’t overcome it? With G-d’s help, really no one. But who says that we can’t? Only us, to us!
The woman in birth. “Drop your shoulders,” I remind her. Relax that jaw. I remind her she was made for this.
The overwhelmed mother. Stop squeezing your muscles. 😊 I remind her she was made for this. Calm down 😊
The wife who smiles even when she doesn’t feel like it. I remind her she was made for this. Again, calm down 😊.
The situation that you are in. I could name a hundred. Let me tell you something. YOU are so strong! Stop for a minute.
Take a step back and look at yourself from an outside situation. Look at all that you accomplished and all that with G-d’s help you have done.
You made a mistake? You are not perfect? You feel unqualified, not fit for the job?
Stop squeezing those muscles! Take a deep breath. Calm down 😊
Stop the list of “I can’t. I’m not good enough.”
Go back to the list of all the areas and ways that you see how Hashem helped you, helps you. Do the best that you can and with G-d’s help, keep going. Keep trying. Move on.
With blessings,
Good Shabbes,
Elana