The wise person learns from everything that occurs to him. He tries to gain understanding from each occurrence. Even if he doesn’t merit to gain a total understanding, the attempt to gain a deeper grasp of the matter in itself expands his mental scope.
By developing your spirituality and cleaving to Torah, you will develop a profound spiritual outlook in all that occurs in your life. This will help you to lift yourself up from one level to the next.
~ R’ Chaim Mordechai Katz zt”l
Someone who is devoid of spirituality will lack a true feeling for the importance of life. On the other hand, a person who sincerely wishes to cleave to eternal life will have an intense inner awareness of the true value of every second in this world. This form of “love of life” will be on an entirely different plane from those who lack spiritual awareness. ~ R’ Eliyahu Dessler zt”l
Suffering is a result of being stuck, of not being able to move. Few things are more painful than finding out that you were able to move, but you didn’t. It hurts to come face to face with our potential, to see what we might have been, had we moved. The yetzer hara tries to get us to blame everyone else, to stay comfortable, to remain stuck in place.
Make a decision to move ahead, to take responsibility and move, and wherever you end up, that’s where Hashem wants you to be.
It’s exhilarating. You did yours. ~ R’ David Lieberman
One who wants to forge a stronger relationship with Hashem should start by reciting the first berachah of Shemona Esrei with kavannah.
~ Rambam
If a person could come back from the dead and pray, he would certainly pray with all his might.
~ R’ Nachman of Breslov zt”l
We all want to believe we are givers. But if so, we have to be honest and realize how many people there are in our lives just waiting for us to give them something.
It’s not hard. If you’re lucky enough to have parents, pick up the phone and speak with them.
If you’re lucky enough to have grandparents, call them and say Gut Shabbos.
If you’re lucky enough to have close friends, let them know you don’t take them for granted.
You’ll lift their spirits, but even more, you will learn how to give.
~ R’ Benzion Klatzko
I received a kabbalah that when one collects money for others, this protects his future generations that they will never need to collect money for themselves.
~ Aruch HaShulchan (247:5)
One of the Chofetz Chaim’s students asked him for a blessing for livelihood. The Chofetz Chaim answered, “It leads to an absurdity, that one poor man turns to a second poor man for help, at a time when both of them can turn to a rich Father.
It is He who proclaims and says ‘Mine is silver, Mine is gold’ and ‘Salvation is from Hashem.’”
~ Praying with Fire
A person should not think that only the final outcome is decreed from Heaven. Rather, the entire process of meeting the proper individual is part of the decree.
Every step of the way is part of the Almighty’s plan. With every step a person takes, he is fulfilling the will of the Almighty.
~ R’ Moshe Feinstein zt”l
If I’m still alive, it can’t be too late. The biggest proof that He, the Ribbono shel Olam, hasn’t given up on me is that I woke up this morning. It means he believes that there’s work for me to do. There’s a purpose for me.
I can still forgive. Forgive myself for all the disappointments, for the mistakes in my marriage, with others, the way I’ve been.
So help me, Ribbono shel Olam, realize that it might be late, but it’s not too late.
If He trusts in me, that helps me trust in me.
Help me, Ribbono shel Olam, to change the only person I was put in this world to change.
~ R’ Jonathan Rietti
