As dad opened his birthday gift, he was shocked to discover a parrot trained to sing him praises:
“You’re the best!”
“You’re awesome!”
“We love you!”
An accompanying note read: Dad, we’ve decided to gift you the best gift ever: “the gift of praises”. From now on you will have praises sung for you 24/7!
As humans we have needs. One of our greatest needs is to be accepted and appreciated for who we are. When another human compliments us, we feel validated. Appreciation is one heart reaching for another heart and forging a connection.
But, it’s got to be genuine! In the world of mass production, it’s easy to confuse an authentic compliment with lip service.
That’s why the Ten Commandments specifically state that we should honor our parents and recognize that there is a creator. Both of these commandments represent the most fundamental principle: appreciation.
They represent the deepest appreciation of all: appreciating that all of our talents and achievements have a cause, they didn’t just come out of nowhere. We were created. We were pampered and nurtured! We all have a birthday!
Wishing you a wonderful Hag! May you receive the Torah anew on this holiday, and may it be an internally uplifting and joyous experience!
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Mendy
