Rain and Wisdom: Knowing When to Stand Still

Rain is a bracha. The Gemara in Ta'anit (2a) teaches that rain is among the three keys H'shem keeps in His hand alone—it's that precious. Yet the Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 13:13) teaches us that the Mabul came because "the rains were excessive"—when blessing becomes too much, it destroys.

The other night I overheard someone close to me sharing information about one of my kids. Nothing damaging, but the way they spun it... I could feel my shoulders tense.

Here's where being right meets being smart.

Could I confront them? Absolutely. I'd be justified. But then what? Where do the ripples go?

Instead, I asked myself: Can they really harm me if I don't feed this? And if I hold onto anger, where does that leave me?

The Rambam (Hilchot De'ot 2:3) warns that anger destroys health—literally damages the body. The Orchot Tzaddikim says anger blocks our path to excellence. The Zohar teaches that it pushes away the Shechinah, severing our relationship with H'shem. And Rabbeinu Yonah writes that a heart full of anger cannot love others properly.

So here's what I learned: Everyone—everyone—in your life can be a source of good if you're smart enough to see it.

H'shem is the only One who gives or takes from me (Iyov 1:21). If I stay focused on my goal, if I trust that, then I can run through the raindrops without drowning in them.

Be smart, just right.

Never take your eyes off where you're going.

And may every rain drop—even the uncomfortable ones—bring shefa into your life with bracha.

Photo by Aldward Castillo on Unsplash

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