I knew there would be challenges, but “pick me, pick me — count me in!”

A

fter my return from a year in seminary, I was inspired, but certain my feet were still firmly planted on the ground. A life of Torah, yiras Shamayim, and using my kochos to serve Hashem sounded great. I hadn’t fallen off the deep end: I knew there would be challenges, but “pick me, pick me — count me in!”

When I called Rochel for post seminary wardrobe advice, my newly married, very nauseous friend confided that the bottomless stack of dishes and endless supper preparation was exhausting and took foreeeever.

“But Rochel, each dish is a mitzvah, each salad a zechus!” I exclaimed.

“You don’t get it,” she interrupted me. “Do-NOT-tell-me-that!”

“But it’s true, isn’t it…?” my voice trailed off, confused. It was true. How had she forgotten so quickly?