“When you come into the Land that Hashem will give you as an inheritance … You shall take from the first of every fruit of the ground … And you shall come to the Kohein … And say: ‘And now behold I have brought the first of the fruit of the Land that You have given me Hashem.’ You shall place it before Hashem and rejoice in all the good that Hashem has given to you and your family.” (Devarim 26:1–11)

The purpose of bringing bikurim is to demonstrate recognition of Hashem’s goodness — that all wealth and success emanates from Him. (Rav Chaim Zeitchik Maayanei HaChayim).

I stare dumfounded at the visage that appears before me on the inside of my closet door. I happened to bump into her by chance; my arms were filled with folded laundry as I swung the door open and suddenly I saw her in the mirror gazing at me — so similar to me but looking so miserable and angry.

I have known her for a long time. I know that she works very hard and that some massive invisible spoon stirs up her home every day and creates chaos that she must restore to order. I know that she has troubles and worries and even backaches 

…But is she really so miserable that she can’t even smile?

A person who has so many positive attributes that Hashem granted him will feel joy; he will feel that he must be grateful to Hashem. (ibid.)

Bikurim.

People dancing as they bear decorated baskets to the Beis HaMikdash. Singing melodies of thanks and gratitude to Hashem for all the kindnesses he bestows upon them.

How much must a person give praise and thanks to Hashem for giving him a normal life with a family a home and all kinds of enjoyment and satisfaction. He has so many reasons to give praise:

All of his limbs are intact and he’s healthy from head to toe. His eyesight works day and night his legs carry him wherever he tells them to go and turn right or left at his command and his heart functions normally. He should praise the Creator for blessing him with such abundance. (ibid.)

To bring bikurim.

To stop complaining all day and making ourselves miserable and small.

To stop living our lives in that narrow dark place of problems and difficulties grousing and irritated.

Why should we allow a few spots of drudgery on the clear glass of our daily livesto eclipse the beauty of the breathtaking landscape of life that fills the horizon?

How wonderful it is to bring bikurim!

To get up in the morning with a smile and begin to sing. To sing about the fact that I am myself — a healthy woman capable of thought filled with energy and abilities. To sing about my own home and children! Hashem You have given me healthy children and they woke up this morning filled with energy and enthusiasm! They are healthy children who raid the fridge and leave the front door open and are constantly asking for money.

“Thank You Hashem! Thank You! Thank You!” Can I possibly hope to imitate the tune of the people who carried those baskets?

Thank You for the life that flows through my home a healthy and turbulent life a life filled with childishness and youthfulness. Thank You Hashem for the privilege of being a mother for the privilege of being a woman for the privilege of seeing all the wonderful things in Your world.

“But if he doesn’t recognize all of Hashem’s goodness to him if he doesn’t feel the need to give thanks to the Creator he detracts from the honor of Heaven.

A person who is content with what Hashem has given him will be content in the Next World as well. (ibid.)

More than anything Hashem wants me to be happy joyful and content — to love what I do to love myself to love my home and my life in general.

That is called sanctifying Hashem’s Name. That brings satisfaction to Hashem. The woman in the mirror wants to bring bikurim. The next time I meet her in the mirror she will smile at me with joy and I will gather her smile in my own decorated basket.

Suddenly I saw her in the mirror gazing at me — so similar to me but looking so miserable and angry