Once we commit, we receive Divine assistance to fulfill our commitment

“All that Hashem has said, we will do and we will listen.” (Shemos 24:7)

When Bnei Yisrael said “Naaseh v’nishma,” a Heavenly Voice proclaimed: “Who revealed this secret to My children? This is how the angels respond.”

The Gemara (Shabbos 88a) tells of a Tzedoki who said to Rava, “You Jews are an impetuous nation who put your mouth before your ears. You should have listened first to see if you could follow the instructions of the Torah and only then accepted the Torah.”

Rava answered, “We Jews are a wholesome people.” Rashi explains that since our relationship with Hashem is based on complete trust and love, we’re ready to do anything He requests. (Rabbi Avraham Kahn, Torah Attitude)

I’m in middle of spring cleaning in the dead of winter. This past lockdown has me digging into dark corners of my closet, pulling out boxes and items I haven’t looked at in years. One dusty box is labeled “Projects.” Inside’s an unfinished embroidery with delicate lavender flowers, designed to match my childhood bedroom of years ago. There are decoupage supplies and notes for a novel, painstakingly handwritten. Old, old.

I put the whole box into the discard pile, but I couldn’t discard the sense of failure. So many projects never completed. What did that say about me? And what does it say about me now that if lockdown were to be lifted, I’d leave the spring cleaning unfinished as well?

It’s like a doctor who prescribes treatment for his patient. If he’s been dedicated to treating this patient for years, the patient will trust him even if the treatment’s difficult and painful. He knows it’s for his own benefit.

Next box contained packets of clipped recipe ideas that never made it to my table. Then photos. I haven’t printed pictures since digital cameras were invented, but still have plenty of prints waiting to be tucked into albums. Do they still manufacture photo albums?

I continued brooding as I foraged deeper, discovering oil paints long dried-out and a partially finished canvas. Defeated, I tried to console myself that I had a lot of varied interests, even if I lacked the commitment to carry them out.

The late Chief Rabbi of England, Lord Immanuel Jakobovits, on a visit to Denmark, discussed how many people find keeping Shabbos difficult, feeling it would restrict them from enjoyable activities. Yet on closer analysis, we find that it’s only people who do not observe Shabbos who consider it difficult and restrictive. Those who observe Shabbos properly do not.

The reason for this is simple. When one observes from outside, it looks difficult. But when one makes a commitment, one receives Divine assistance to both observe and enjoy Shabbos. The same applies to any other commandment of the Torah.

My Rebbi, Rosh Yeshivah of Gateshead Yeshivah, Rabbi Leib Gurwicz, explained that the biggest difficulty is to make the commitment. Once we commit, we receive Divine assistance to fulfill our commitment. This is the secret the Jewish people knew when they accepted the Torah without knowing what it said. If we internalize this approach, we can commit to following in their footsteps.

Then another box caught my interest — less dusty, labeled “Bas Mitzvah Scrapbooks.” Inside were decorating supplies together with neat lists of pages and ideas, starting from my girls’ hospital baby bracelets straight through age 12. And I finished these projects. My girls were each so proud of their bas mitzvah scrapbooks, taking them with them to their own homes when they got married. My boys have often expressed their jealousy that they “only” had bar mitzvah celebrations and never got scrapbooks.

Come to think of it, I’ve finished projects for my boys as well — the model airplanes and framed puzzles we’ve completed together. And the recipe book I share with my children is neatly organized and well-used. All their favorites, labeled for easy access when they want to bake with me or on their own.

I paused in my go-throw mode and allowed myself a pat on the back. To paraphrase Antony Brandt, “Other things may change me, but I start and end with my family.”

I may not be Queen of Completion when it comes to the creative arts, but in the box marked “Life Projects,” I can check off: Committed.

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 730)