Have you heard the story of the man who would always describe how much he loved children? One day, some fresh cement was poured outside his house, and, without missing a beat, the neighborhood children began jumping in it.
When he discovered this, he became furious.
“But I thought you loved kids!” remarked his neighbor.
The man replied, “Yeah, I love them in the abstract—but not in the concrete.”
It’s easy to live in the abstract until we’re faced with the concrete: those real-life situations that test our patience and touch our truest emotions.
For love to be genuine, it must be able to thrive in all circumstances—not only in moments of pleasure but also in times when sacrifice is required.
If love cannot endure in the “concrete,” it is not truly sustainable; it is not authentic. On the other hand, when our love is driven by a higher purpose, it can endure and transcend even the most trying times. Our forefather Abraham Avinu embodied this ideal. He loved humanity, and he loved Hashem with all his heart. As his descendants, we have inherited this trait.
Let us fuel our love for one another with true intentionality and meaning, so that it forever touches the lives of those we encounter.
Takeaway: When we uncover the true drive behind our love, we discover its depth and remarkable endurance.
Wishing you and your family a Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Mendy
