Thank You

We thank people when they do us a favour. It shows our acknowledgement that we appreciate, that the other person made an effort to help us.

Thank you. Two little words that go a long way.

There is a song that became very popular, with the words ‘Thank You Hashem’ — Thank You G-d.

There are so many reasons to thank G-d. For the food we eat, for the life we have, for everything.

And when extraordinary miracles happen, we want to then thank G-d for the miracles.

Last week a non-Jewish specialist helped us a lot. When we said thank you to him, he replied “Praise G-d.”

Everything that happens to us, happens by Divine providence. G-d creates everything ex-nihilo (out of nothing) every moment. Because the world was created from nothing, and if G-d stopped recreating it and giving it life, it would go back to nothing.

We say in the daily prayers: ‘He renews, every day, the act of initial creation.’

He renews creation every moment, and within that renewing, He conducts everything that happens.

This does not contradict the concept of free choice. Because G-d is able to conduct our lives in a way that still allows us to have free choice. Chassidus explains this in more detail. (See Lekutei Sichos volume 5, pages 57 – 67)

So we are constantly seeing G-d’s miraculous life-giving force. And we thank Him for it. As we recite thrice daily in the quiet ‘Amidah’ prayer: “We thank You … for our lives that is in Your hands, and for our souls that You appoint, and for Your miracles that we experience every day, and for Your wonders and Your benevolence that happen constantly, evening, morning, and afternoon …”

Life is miraculous. But when we see extraordinary miracles, it evokes within us tremendous appreciation.

The world is now seeing extraordinary miracles. G-d is protecting the Jewish nation. And as the miracles continue, our appreciation to Him overflows.

Redemption seems very close. It will be a time when the whole world sees G-d’s presence, and when there will be peace in the entire world.

May it happen very soon.