Appreciating the Blessings

One of the challenges of human nature is that we become accustomed to the blessings that Hashem gives us. Things that once would have filled us with excitement eventually become part of everyday life, and we begin to expect them rather than appreciate them. Very often, we do not recognize the true value of something until it is no longer available. A person may take his health for granted until, lo alenu, he becomes ill. Suddenly, all the things he was once able to do effortlessly become precious. The same is true with all blessings and relationships. One of the purposes of thanking Hashem for our blessings is to train ourselves to appreciate them while we have them, so that we do not need to lose them in order to recognize their value. A man told me that he recently had to move to another city, and now it takes him over an hour to commute to work each day. He said he never appreciated living just five minutes from his office. Looking back, he wishes he had appreciated that convenience while he had it. Sometimes a person spends years praying for something. He dreams of getting married, finding a job, buying a home, or having a child. Then, when Hashem grants him that blessing, it gradually becomes part of his routine, and he no longer feels the same excitement he once did. He moves on to making new requests and may even feel as though Hashem never gives him what he asks for. If only he could remember how desperately he once wanted what he already has. Another benefit of thanking Hashem for our blessings becomes apparent from the following story. A woman related that after she gave birth, she was rushed to the ICU with severe complications. She lost a tremendous amount of blood and required more than ten blood transfusions. She was connected to machines, had a tube down her throat, and her hands and feet were extremely swollen. The doctors expected her to remain in the ICU for at least seven to ten days. At one point, they were not sure if she would survive. They told her husband that her life was hanging by a thread. When she finally became aware of where she was, what was happening, and how serious her condition was, she told her husband that they needed to thank Hashem for the healthy baby He had just given them. Even though she was weak, confused, and frightened, she felt that this was the moment to focus on gratitude. Together they began thanking Hashem for everything they could think of. They thanked Him for the doctors and nurses who were caring for her, for the people bringing them food, for her hands and feet that had not been swollen for all the years before, and for countless other blessings. Then they said Mizmor LeTodah together. At that time, her oxygen level was only 88. The doctors had told them that she would not be allowed to leave the ICU until it reached at least 96. Despite all the medical efforts, the number would not move. As they continued thanking Hashem and saying Mizmor LeTodah, they watched the monitor. Eighty-eight became eighty-nine. Eighty-nine became ninety. They could hardly believe it. They continued thanking Hashem for more and more blessings and recited Mizmor LeTodah again. The numbers kept climbing until, all of a sudden, the oxygen level reached 97 and remained there. After a little more than an hour of focusing on gratitude and thanking Hashem, her oxygen level had risen enough for her to leave the ICU. The doctors were stunned. The next day, while she was still in the hospital, the nurses noticed that her numbers were once again not looking good, and they were concerned that she might need to return to the ICU. She asked for a few minutes alone. Once again, she focused on gratitude to Hashem and recited Mizmor LeTodah. When the nurses returned, they saw that the numbers had gone back to normal. Baruch Hashem, she was eventually discharged fully healed. She said she learned one of the greatest lessons of her life. Gratitude does not change Hashem; it changes us. When we stop focusing on what we are missing and start noticing the blessings that Hashem has already given us, something changes inside. We begin to see His kindness everywhere, and that itself is a tremendous zechut. May we always merit to appreciate Hashem's blessings and thank Him for them constantly.